Whew.
Good evening welcome to the Northampton city council meeting of December fifth
twenty third scene I'm City Council president killed wife and I am presiding
tonight. As per our costume we're going to open we. Public
comment the public is invited to speak on any topic and limit their remarks to
three minutes please the council is precluded by our rules from responding so any
questions positive will be left unanswered I'm afraid at least in the context of
this meeting. When I call you up please come to the podium state your name and your
address and have at it and we're going to start with Liz Why not whose first.
I. Mean why not and I'm cured representing the top three help me. OK At
sixteen second Street in downtown Northampton. The first thing I want to say
is I want to think of the members of the city council for your continued support of
the top three Health nearly exchange since it opened up eighteen years ago I first
want to mention that we're having an anniversary event tomorrow at the Media
Education Foundation at the Francis Crick theater on the Sonic street and that
starts at six pm We'll be showing different films we've been involved in and there
will be
a discussion including remarks by city president. And we invite you all to attend
so I came here tonight and solidarity with never another death month and to be
witness to this proclamation you know how important this causes from my work with
the needle exchange and also from growing up in the city I've been personally
a witness to the deep impact that alcohol and drug use has had here. For those
unfamiliar with what we do we intend to meet the needs of those in the midst of
their addiction and to work with them through harm reduction framework we offer
a Chevy appetite to see an S.G.I.
Counseling and testing overdose prevention in our can training roles to treatment
and ongoing counseling abstinence from drugs and alcohol is one of our goals
however we also realize that addiction is
a reality of life for many and we try our hardest to keep those currently addicted
to opiates and other drugs as safe as possible. One issue I just want to quickly
hire highlights in A is the rising incidence of hepatitis C.
Among those under twenty five years of age. The state surveillance from the
mass partner public health in highlighted in the M.M.W.
Are reports has shown that starting in two thousand and two in Massachusetts
there's been an increase of newly diagnosed Hep C.
Infection among youth ages fifteen to twenty five specifically between two thousand
and two and two thousand and ten which is the most recent data I could find an
increase of sixty five to one hundred thirty five cases per one thousand population
Massachusetts was reported its age group in the data suggest that the increase is
due to youth injecting drugs mostly heroin. And my own experience as
a local public health professional I've also seen the same trend it's too common
that someone will come to us barely over the age of eighteen and already have
hepatitis C.
And to me this indicates significant drug use during the teen years long term use
in acquisition of a virus such as hepatitis C.
Has been shown to increase the risk of
a feeler overdose and also transmission of other diseases like HIV. As never as
never another death I lay It's YOUR needs to be more treatment options for
adolescents it's far too easy for you to fall through the cracks and they start
using drugs more attention needs to be given to this issue through advocating for
Greece treatment rehabilitation options and other services thank you thank you very
much. Joyce said and please.
I am to
a save in Russia sixty seven Westry ninety I'm ten and I want to thank the mayor
and the City Council for this proclamation tonight we spent the last year working
with many others and recovery we've had many wonderful experiences in this
community and other communities we want to thank a base
a builders and Dakin for their donation project because of this we were able to
posts our para one killed someone I love up
a sticker on the construction site three. Cents September which gets
a lot of traffic flow also the Michael J.
Foundation and the law school system who sponsored Chris have Brown who was asked
about junkie and October twenty eighth he is on. The book Fall
River dreams and he became
a heroin addict we were so privileged to see him tell his story he spoke and over
four hundred thousand teenagers crisscrossing the United States his message was
very powerful honest and life changing for me and September twenty six we also
work hard work of remind and pass the state house and hundreds of people were the
voices of recovery through more Massachusetts organization of addiction and
recovery and I brought some materials we heard fifteen year old children take the
microphone and share their story and tell that they were one year clean up when.
And. I cried
a lot because I was so proud to see these kids take charge of their lives
my son Matthew thirteen years ago and the programs that these children are enrolled
in and are having success and weren't available that. Teen Challenge also is
a huge program and they had young solver musicians who performed and they were
really incredibly talented and clean and sober us out there were Recovery High
Schools from the state of Massachusetts they are and I want to thank everyone in
the our community that supports recovery Harrison house Grace house and of course
tapestry because every day tapestry saves lives and gives people an opportunity
to. Be free from disease learn about harm reduction
and make wise choices to be able to live after their diseases arrested thank you
thank you Dr Francis Crowe please.
Frances kraut from three Langmore the road in Northampton and I'm here to talk
about the dangers that Vermont Yankee as there are thousands of spent fuel
rods up on the banks of that river very near the river and.
Five stories high there are more spent fuel rods there than were it food.
So if there's a serious storm and anything happens to that bell today we have
a Fukushima on the eastern coast of the United States and I think they should be
put in dry cast and stored deep underground not in the flood plain
because they have to be vented but and I'm out and Vermont and we're only thirty
miles from Yankee. Energy the corporation that owns for much
wants to mock the plant and not do anything with the fuel rods and Kellie's
that more money but I've shed there they say they're going to operate for sixteen
more months because they need the money I think they should shut it down now but if
they continue to operate I think that money that they make should go and an escrow
account to take care of the fuel rods so I hope you will all look at
the decommissioning flyer I gave you and you'll see
a picture of the stored fuel rod standing on the banks of the Connecticut River
and they're there on the banks of the river because the spent fuel rods have to be
kept cool with water or running water and when the plant was
first authorized it was that they were. It happened their own cooling system which
they have but it's Jaipur to use the Connecticut River to cool the fuel rods
so they put the hot water in the river and that's why the river hasn't frozen over
at Northampton dead doesn't the X.
Bobette that firm Vernon down to here I was to Springvale and it's still warm add
in the face shape at the back of my so it's an extremely dangerous thing at night
you know that and it's very important that because we're only thirty miles that way
we should really be weighing in on that and there are more people living and
Westernesse uses post of mine yet there are in Vermont almost
beyond Montpellier the population up western Massachusetts is that high I feel
so. Right now what tell you more about the permit have.
Thank you very much. Douglas running. Low My name is Doug Granik I live at
one
o five black Birch trail in Florence. And I work with Francis on the nuclear free
future coalition of Western Mass. The N.F.L.
Is committed to a nuclear free carbon free future and we're invision
a renewable energy future and to that end in F. F.
Provided to solar coach Susan Lance and Corps volunteers through the successful
soul rising North Hampton program that we've just been completed. So I'm here today
to invite all of you to the event on Sunday I gave you
a copy of this flyer. Will be at the Bridge Street school on Sunday
afternoon between two and four. And there's more information on the back of the
flyer about the the experts that we've invited to present so these four
people. All have experience in decommissioning and I don't know about you but this
is like
a mystery to me like What are they doing these plants shut down and we know
a Yankee row all those left of
a fuel rods are still sitting Yankee bro. And so I think it's important for us to
be aware of what's happening up there as Frances said whether they leave them
sitting in these pools or where they put them in dry casks is
a very important public safety safety issue.
So I think she's given you some concerns we have about the possibility of
a solution that's call say store which means they just everything says as it is for
sixty fifty sixty years it didn't get cleaned up into a like
a green field instead of the brownfield it is. So these are these are important
things for us to be aware of since we are downwind and downriver from this from
this plant so we'd like to think councillor Jessie Adams and the committee and
public safety for co-sponsoring this event and we'd like to invite all of you to
come on Sunday bring your questions and ask these experts who had experience in
this decommissioning process what that's going to be like for us living fairly
close to the plant so there will be a Q.
And A session after the experts make their presentations so do come Sunday thank
you very much thank you. Fran Pokemon please
Good evening I'm friend boatman forty Arlington Street Hampton and I'm here to
invite you all councillors and community members to
a presentation next Wednesday on food and farming in North Hampton and the Pioneer
Valley. The presentation is sponsored by
a local group keep farming Northhampton some of you have heard about it we've been
working for the last four years to under the sponsorship of the agricultural
commission to create
a picture of our local food system we've surveyed twenty six North Hampton farmers
that's most of them. Five hundred fifty Northhampton residents thirty eight
restaurants and ten institutions to provide solid data on the place of farming and
local food in our economy and our community this fall we were joined by students in
a capstone course at Smith College on local food who have completed the final
survey and placed our work in a regional context and they've made
a fabulous visual presentation. We have recommendations on steps that can be taken
to make Northhampton
a local food destination that supports our farmers our businesses and all of the
members of our community the presentation will be held on Wednesday September
eleventh somebody took
a picture of the House Wednesday September eleventh the same December as I'm sorry
December eleventh at seven thirty and they are F. K.
Community room we especially hope that city councillors city leaders concerned with
economic development and sustainability and many of the survey participants as well
as others will join us thank you enjoy it thanks very much thank you Steve SASCO
please.
Yes sus go Steve sus go seven five four Bridge Road as US C.E.O.
Attended the two public informational stormwater and flood control meetings held
this week I wanted to ask
a couple of questions without hogging the time my mind is still open regarding this
matter although I sat hand raised between the questions of others
a sensually the entire meetings I was not recognized I believe not recognized on
purpose why what are you afraid of here others were recognized multiple times
some apparent favors favorites some ten or more times I began to ask
a first question at the first meeting but was shouted down by the ward three
councillor Daniels he extolling the audience to condemn my pretense good
riddance to the ward three councillor Hopefully he will man up and indicate his
level of involvement in the railroading of the former ward three representative of
about it
a parting gift as it were by the way this city Oh was the Plas means an apology
What's the matter with my questions why can't all citizens participate here
inclusion in transparency of say Bologna I say I demand that all citizens be
allowed to participate in this matter. For for fellow citizens notice I believe
these meetings are being conducted with planted questions from the audience people
and claimed task force members jumping up and demanding higher and immediate
increases to the proposed fees persons claiming to be from New Orleans and in
equating our situation as equivalent to Hurricane Katrina baloney I believe our
situation here is being misrepresented by those presenting we are being told are
are. We are in dire straits that the levee failure is in and is
a meat. Is imminent baloney it's past time to cut the baloney
fellow citizens I say to you get interested in involved now or face never ending
any creasing fee payments and I'd like to read from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers letter to the city's our city's engineer regarding our
flood systems present status and this letter is from Mr H.
Farrel McMillan professional engineer chief of the engineering and planning
division and levee safety officer to the North Hampton city engineer and he
writes that the minimally acceptable rating of our flood damage reduction system
means that the deficiencies were. Where tension none of which would prevent the
system broke forming as intended during the next flood event and one more sentence
if I may I am pleased to report that the system should perform as intended.
Thank you very much Carol Rinehart please
. I'm Carol. Lin oh five blackbirds trail in
Florence. And I come to you this evening as
a member of the Human Rights Commission. This is the last time I'll be addressing
the council in this capacity so I'll take this opportunity to thank you for your
support and your commitment to human rights and issues in North Hampton during my
seven years in this role I've really been proud to be in the Rall and I've really
enjoyed it and working with you I urge you to continue to take very
seriously the role of this commission can Clay in the holding up the values and
concerns that are as important to our collective life as mending our bridges and
attending to our public works to night the mayor will read
a proclamation regarding the sixty fifth anniversary of the passage of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights referred to it as the U.D.
Age are although the many nations participating in this declaration through the
United Nations in one thousand nine hundred forty eight they would not have used
this term but I think of the you D.H.
As a sustainability plan a recognition that governments have
a choice based on the genocides costs and wars of the first half of the
twentieth century those signers knew that governments can indeed ignore and
undermine the necessary infrastructure for fostering and nourishing human community
ultimately the only reason governments exist or they can support the full survival
and rich potential of their greatest resource. The U.-T.
Age are sets of potential sets
a template really of basic standards that are necessary to fulfill this
element of
a government's infrastructure basically its people must have food shelter
education safety and freedom in order to function and grow we can be tempted to be
cynical and disappointed about the level of success reached in the sixty five years
that have passed however to mix my metaphors
a moment I suggest we think of the human rights listed in this declaration as being
like wedding vows essential for
a strong marriage and yet destined to be bent spend
a little mutilated when lived out by the very human community as they serve yet it
is when we drop the values and give up the hopes and aspirations that real and
attainable possibilities are laid waste forgive me for talking. On the
screen on this coming Tuesday evening December tenth some of you counselors will
be among the thirty community representatives of Human Services and justice
activities each one reading one of the thirty articles of this sustainability plan
Professor Josh Miller of the Smith College School social work will be speaking on
how each of us can bend the arc toward racial justice and students of every age
will be singing and greeting guests I hope you will come and encourage your
constituents to come as well thank you thank you care that's all.
Folks signed up with anyone else would like to speak friend to you would you like
to step up.
Six sixty nine West Ham. I'd like to urge is the city council voted
against the C.P.C. S.
Vote to fund the design of proposed Poleski park plans at the tune of to the tune
of one hundred ninety four thousand five hundred dollars the plans call for touring
or only downtown art into an entertainment venue instead of
a place for quiet enjoyment. There are hundreds of residents and dozens of stores
within earshot of the park previous events of rattled windows and buildings and
essentially put a stop to conducting business for hours at
a time on upper Main Street while an occasional concert of non amplified music is
fine plans for
a stage would invite over use of the park Furthermore plans for Plaskett park or
premature until there is
a coordinated plan for the round house and lot and the park I realized that C.P.A.
Gives a C.P.A. a Lot of C.P.C.
a Lot of money just around just because one hundred four hundred ninety four
thousand five hundred dollars is
a lot of money is no reason to. Writers who have stated that the money would be
pretty much the same regardless of the scope or cost of the final. Nearly two
hundred thousand dollar design fee would not pay for one show full of dirt to be
moved total cost would be one to one point five million dollars and I'm not sure
that's how we should spend our money. Thank you so you would also like to speak.
Actors location I know I probably speak to the choir on this one but. I thought I
would. Come and give you
a little overview of what the mass Restaurant Association thinks of casinos. And
their effect on surrounding communities. In the study that the mayor is looking to
do for. The effects is is well worth the
money spent. For all the studies that we've looked at. Springfield may
call it the saving grace and I call it the nail in the coffin because it has an
economic impact of about thirty five miles in circumference around retail
restaurant disposable income. The money goes into the whole unit doesn't come out
of the hole. All roads lead to the casino so anybody around there any of the
businesses
a think they may reap the business from the casino small restaurants retail
somebody selling mattresses Bubs and whispering fields anything gets affected by
the income that sucked. Out of the people by the by the casinos in the casinos.
They could. Develop a big because good scene a developer has
a anything around the casino the money goes in the casino it doesn't leave and when
people leave they don't go somewhere else and spend the money because they don't
have any so any money well is well spent on the study we don't want to see the
effects of
a casino appear and if you have to and if there is one in Springfield. You will be
devastating to anything around it including us so I would urge you to support
whatever the miracles to say that thank you thank you very much. Anyone else which
is speak of this time going once going twice.
Or we will convene. Will the court please call the rule. Here.
Here. Here. Here. Here.
Here. Here. There are no public hearings scheduled so would go
directly to the communications from the mayor.
Was
a passel of communications actually and it's. Good evening honorable
members of the city council I have two proclamations that I'd like to issue this
evening the first one is intitled Human Rights Day December tenth two thousand and
thirteen. Whereas Tuesday December tenth two thousand and thirteen marks the sixty
fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights signed by the United
Nations General Assembly following the defeat of fascist expansionism and genocide
and whereas all people share fundamental rights based soley on their common
humanity and whereas as stated in the preamble to the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights quote recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and Elie
animal rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom
justice and peace in the world unquote and whereas the city of North Hampton has
long held
a prominent place in American history for our community support peace social
justice and human rights and whereas the city's formation of our Human Rights
Commission is the tangible expression of our support for human rights and whereas
the primary responsibility to promote respect for those rights and freedoms lies
with each individual of this nation and each of us can play
a major role in enhancing human rights and whereas on December tenth two thousand
and thirteen in observance of Human Rights Day two thousand and thirteen it's in
our hands community members will come together to publicly declare their support of
humanity's hopes as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
whereas this proclamation is sponsored by the city council committee on social
services and Veterans Affairs chaired by counselor Marianne the barge now therefore
I married David Mark. It's do here by proclaim December tenth two thousand and
thirteen to be Human Rights Day in the city of Northampton I invite our community
to affirm and protect the human rights of all people as set forth in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights so that these rights will flourish and be made
available to all in Witness whereof I have set my hand and imprinted the city seal
this fifth day of December in the year two thousand and thirteen and I would be
honored to present this to the chair of the Human Rights Commission.
I have
a second proclamation this evening and this is entitled Never
another death month December two thousand and thirteen whereas organizers dedicate
never another death month to the memory of all adolescents and adults who have died
as
a direct result of alcohol and drug use and where as many use have died of alcohol
and drug related causes due to
a lack of appropriate and available treatment facilities in western Massachusetts
and whereas there is
a critical need for an adolescent alternative rehabilitation and treatment facility
in western Massachusetts that acknowledges the unique challenge of working with
adolescents in
a multi-service approach to rehabilitation and treatment and whereas rehabilitation
and treatment with supportive counseling and life skills training presents
a positive alternative to the death and incarceration of the growing population of
youth addicted to drugs and alcohol. And whereas organizers would like to
acknowledge the dedication and work of the staff of Harrison house Grace house and
tapestry harm reduction as well as the work of the North Hampton Prevention
Coalition
a community driven effort to raise awareness of these issues it is important to
acknowledge the recovery community who share their experience strength and hope
with those struggling from the disease of addiction and whereas never another death
seeks to raise awareness of the problem of drug and alcohol addiction on behalf of
the families who have lost their sons and daughters brothers sisters grandchildren
nieces nephews and friends now therefore David Jane Arkell it's due here by
proclaim December two thousand and thirteen as never another death month in the
city of Northampton I encourage residents to support those who council house and
employ individuals in recovery and to remember our neighbors who have been lost to
drug and alcohol addiction and all those who remain at risk in Witness whereof I
have set my hand and fix the seal of the city of Northampton this fifth day of
December two thousand and thirteen and I would be honored to present this to Russia
it's profitable thanks so much thank you Joyce. And I believe
that completes the formal communications that I have the C.
Evening thank you for sharing both of them you're welcome I did have just one other
piece of news I know we did send this out to city councillors in
a press release from Senator Rosenberg yesterday but I just wanted to formally
indicate that the the governor yesterday in a cap in sort of
a capital improvement plan that he reduced for the state included
a very important release of funds for an item that was included in the two thousand
and twelve transportation by. And Bill specifically three million dollars that were
allocated to
a project in the meadows neighborhoods of Ward three here in the city to focus on
storm water and drainage improvements that would not only help residential homes
and properties in that neighborhood but would also assist in the ongoing
redevelopment efforts at the three county fair so I just wanted to publicly thank
the governor thank the secretary of administration finance as well as especially
thanking center stand Rosenberg and says And Representative Peter cocotte for their
strong advocacy on behalf of the city of Northampton and will have more details on
this project as it moves forward so thank you for that thank you.
We have full. Force and we have
a resolution here with this is upon the recommendation of the Northampton City
Council whereas the citizens of Northampton hold the military service of its sons
and daughters in the highest esteem and whereas Northampton's veterans have given
much of themselves in the service of us all and inspiring us an enormous sense of
gratitude whereas the men and women who have served in the armed forces from this
community have suffered wounds and have died in conflicts throughout our long
history and whereas our community is
a proud tradition of military service and many of our citizens of our in the
meritorious combat decoration of the Purple Heart medal that is was so upon those
who quote are wounded by in instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and
posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who were killed in action or
die of wounds received in action close quote therefore be it Resolved That the
Northampton city council hereby proclaim the city of Northampton to be
a Purple Heart community honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation's men and
women in uniform or wounded or killed by the enemy while protecting the liberties
and freedoms enjoyed by our community looks at the motion.
Any discussion on this consultation.
Enjoyed by our community we're not an island in the Purple Heart Association and
I would much rather see it as in twenty two others that I've read by all Americans
rather than just by our community you want to look to amend it where it says enjoy
Bear community you enjoyed by all Americans all Americans. These are medals that
are nationwide So this there's
a second on the thank you and in any discussion on the amended language. All those
in favor of many of the language to say by all Americans I. O's
extension any other discussion on this. Comic it is
yours together I spoke with the O.
Agnew the commander of this and he sent me an enormous amount of information and
all kinds of stuff on it and want to thank you put together the the original letter
that he sent out and I hope that will have them for play and come to believe August
seventh is
a day that service side is recognizing. People who have earned the Purple Heart in
the course of their service of this country and come August seventh one it's warmer
we will hopefully. Have an opportunity of the mayor proclaim that
a Purple Heart commemoration day this is as you pointed out commander Agnew it
asked that we consider being
a purple our community like many others in the surrounding area and I think this is
wholly appropriate personally. In the other discussion all
those in favor of the resolution police AI and opposed any abstentions resolution
as amended as amended Yes. Any.
One minute announcements. On concert dates I just. Want to
make note of that the world has suffered
a severe loss today with the loss of Mandela not just in Africa
but on the world stage the champion of human rights and is just this is
a severe blow to the entire to the planet and I wanted to make. Just make that that
announcement also a little closer to home we lost
a. Veteran last week. A couple years older than
myself died in the center of Florence and his apartment STEPHEN O'CONNOR Vietnam
veteran U.S.
Marine Corps National Guard and from
a fabulous. Family a family the local been here all his life. And
a friend of mine in
a disaster another another veteran has passed so thank you.
CONSUL barge. Just to remind all the counselors please
calenders the human rights to the liberation
a call to action December tenth at seven o'clock pm at the Unitarian Society in
Northampton. On supreme day this is from the
D.P.W. Reuse committee there's
a holiday to exchange happening this Friday and Saturday five to eight Friday eight
to nine am on Saturday in the parking lot of the at Hampton senior center.
Construct. Bring toys exchange toys adults parents only please.
And you can find out more on the D P W's website but it's this Friday five to eight
in the evening and Saturday eight to nine in the morning to two exchange. Don't
want to think Carol Reinhardt for all of her work that she's done this council and
all the times I've worked with her on many different levels and she's. Outstanding
advocate for human rights and it's funny that we had read this proclamation about
human rights on the day that Nelson Mandela had passed and Carol Rinehart the
literature last night trying to put write two together. But it's just
it's pretty ironic I think and. Thank you karma Thank you. And the other
announcements. Eats. Up the smack me on the back of that before
some in search of gave me this through I mean the. Given that this is the season
where appeals go out for charity. There is
a phenomenon here in the Valley known as Valley gives and that is if you're
inclined to donate to any charity
a local charity. If you do so on December twelfth or twelve
twelve thirteen is noted you'll give them an opportunity if based on their
sponsorship you have the opportunity to win two hundred thousand dollars more as it
were for their for the nonprofits and charities that serve the community and as we
know there are
a lot of worthy organizations here and if you want if if you really want to make
your your donations count at this point sign up for if you go to W W W Valley gives
Day dot org. You have an opportunity to sign up for that and and.
Be part of that last year was it was epic it actually generated
a lot of money for Valley nonprofit social service agencies and the like and. You
know see if we could do to make it epic again twelve twelve thirteen December
twelfth. This year here for those you working your calendars thank you very much
and the other announcements OK we have
a fireworks permit. Application I believe penny Burke is here and there's penny.
You want to blow up the garage. OK All right well that would
solve some problems but if you OK you do what you want to do it's this is
a I'm having parked on the executive director of north and it's enough to request
of permit for fireworks on first night December thirty first twenty thirteen six
fifteen pm from the roof of the parking garage now and no intent to blow it up.
That this is an annual event that actually had
a landmark event and it's it's stellar I don't know any questions about this about
the chance to look at the license as this is been done I'm sorry. Accept the motion
. Second. Motions made any further discussion you.
Don't think I didn't just want to have supportive of the permit I just want to say
. That the Commission on transportation and parking has initially.
Voted to allow free parking on New Year's Eve. And so in support of first night
and so we hope that people can watch the fireworks without. Fear of being
ticketed just don't park on the top floor right well actually there is not parking
in the garage there's free P.S.A.
Army Serializable lots about it yes thank you transportations and parking
commission on behalf of everybody who wants to come to the event it's much
appreciated and this occurs rain or shine Well New Year's Eve You mean the
fireworks rain trying to know that the fire department really makes
a final call in the eleven years I've done it we've never had to cancel and it
really it mostly depends upon possibly rain or wind but fingers crossed it's going
to I've seen it in snow it's actually stunning as beautiful stunning. All right all
those in favor of granting this probably say I like me owes any abstentions Thank
you. I hope the grudge like.
The cruel minutes. Moved to earth so I
can all those in favor. I'm sentient. And
Will contention. Of power up to the reports of committees and appointments
and elections. That we have the it's from creation of
arcane. To sixty Minutes right we have so seventeenth and
October through September seventeenth in October fifteenth so any discussion.
In favor I oppose. Now we're going to recess for
finance I'm passing the gavel to consul Murphy figure to really. SHARP.
Point of view that's the big males. We're assessing for the finance committee
counsel Murphy is the chair of that So there we can call the roll funny. Here here
present here. That's right the tea ceremony.
So the first item on the recommendation of Mayor David J.
Narcan are that only four thousand five hundred seventy three dollars and thirty
eight cents be appropriated from the Smith vocational stabilization fund for the
purpose of purchasing computers from books i Pads and technology to upgrade
computer labs and classrooms to meet curriculum and software requirements to prove
second it OK and the mayor is here to tell us about. Yes good evening counselors
This is actually. In question is actually some. Residual
funds that have been in a. Town
a stabilization or sale of town that came about as
a result of the sale of some land coolly Dickens' off hospital several years ago
and so the trustees of which I'm
a member of the board of trustees had these. These capital related needs
particularly in the in the technology department and so the board unanimously voted
to utilize these funds for these capital purchases and even though it
is. Because it's a stabilization fund it requires
a vote of the city council to actually
a perp make that sort of an appropriation so I agreed to bring it to the city
council and make that last. This is
a portion of that of that funding how much is left in that this would actually be
the this is the balance this is the balance of what was remaining I believe that
there were some capital. Work done at the time of the actual sale but but
this was
a fund this this is the this would actually close out the account which is another
reason for wanting to for them wanting to do it it was look it was
a million dollars which I believe it was in that neighborhood and I believe that
that some of the proceeds were used immediate more immediately for capital needs at
the school. This is just
a lot of the reason residuals of it that's been sitting in this account but I think
it's
a great usually forms I just I just curious and yeah OK thank you so around. Here
it's grown looks i Pads you know. I do not I do not have that specific information
for you. Although I could well I guess I should say that.
Of like sort of how we work with the school committee on these items the trustees
like the school committee. Have this have sort of de to line item spending
authority over how funds are spent in the in the smith vote budget as well as the
school budget. So I don't have that level of detail for this order but it's
something that their new I.T.
Director has recommended in the superintendent has recommended. But generally for
these type this is more of these are funds that already reside in the smith folk
budget they just need authorization to move it from one area to another so I don't
really have the line item detail. If we do it. Is it limited to
hardware or does it also include CAD system software things of that nature that
it's there's it's
a combination of hardware and then some software related to curriculum as well in
their computer labs they're needing to do some updates to their they also you may
remember earlier this year we came before you to get authorization for an extended
lease to purchase
a new student information system so they've been like like the North Hampton public
schools have been undergoing
a lot of work in this area and in. It's not. It's not
coincidental that that the a lot of our new testing protocols are now due to
a computer based protocol so the kinds of and cast testing that we now do with
paper tests are now going to be moving to
a computer based format so many school districts are or at least those who've had
deferred investments in technology are now really working to make sure that they
have that capacity and we're doing the same you may recall on N.P.'s we're in the
middle of
a three year you know three hundred thousand dollar investment in our school
technology on the North Hampton public school side so I personally feel better if
the money were invested in the education as opposed to the testing personally but
that an obvious saying that. Well it'll be ill certainly get more used than just
for the testing. These these upgrades are needed to their computer labs in part to
be able to accommodate the testing and so tasty so this is just for the labs and
class research nothing to the ministry of use yet this is from the this is from the
. This is from their i T.
Department and the and it's and it's basically these are needed to upgrade the
computer labs and classrooms so this is all hardware that will be used within the
within classrooms in computer labs it's not an i Pad for staff. It's focused on
students that's correct OK Thank you. Thank you I just am I would expect that the
need is also present in every one of the shops that are there at the school just
because. In all aspects of industry technology is more and more present and for
those students to be prepared being able to help use those in that capacity. I Pads
. Other technologies that center so I'm completely into pointers. And the
other questions on this one are those in favor of
a positive recommendation to council I. Think.
And this one upon the recommendation of their David Jane arc which were that the
amount of dollars be appropriated from the stabilization fund allowing the city of
North Hampton to contract with an independent consulting firm to form an economic
impact analysis posed M.G.M.
At Springfield casino and its potential negative impacts on local retail
entertainment and services stablish Ment's within the city of Northampton emotion
on this one. Second of all kinds of this respect for the whole community question
the mayor want to tell us more about this one if I may so. We've
been following tracking very closely the licensure process in the Commonwealth for
this new industry that that we are not I would say we I wouldn't associate
myself with it but the state government is is creating new casino gambling and in
particular the licensure of one resort casino in western Massachusetts and so as
part of that process we've been trying to to follow it we've had conversations with
some of the. License of potential license applicants namely Mohegan Sun and
M.G.M.
Now that the field has cleared and it's no longer four or five and now just one
we've intensified those conversations we have
a couple months ago we retained the. Counsel to help us with those negotiations and
as part of either helping with those negotiations or the attentional of going to
the gaming commission to seek status as
a impacted surrounding community I feel it's incumbent upon the city to commission
an impact study to be able to provide us with hard data on those potential impacts
there's been
a lot of discussion about some of the more. Expected
impacts of a community that's right next door to
a community that has that may have
a casino traffic you know public safety infrastructure etc. But as I
continue to try to point out in the criteria laid out by the gaming commission yes
there are those kinds of impacts that that one would expect for an abiding
community there's also another category of impacts that are spelled out in the
legislation which I've actually included in the resolution and that is potential
negative impacts on local retail entertainment and services stablish rents in the
affected community and I believe that we've worked very hard in North Hampton to
create a very strong local based economy with which has
a strong emphasis on retail entertainment and services talismans and so I've been
greatly concerned about the prospect of
a casino located in western Massachusetts in essentially the same economic market
as North Hampton about the potential impacts. To date M.G.M.
Has not been receptive to those conversations and and so I fully
expect that when the deadline tolls on January eighth December thirty first that we
will need to avail ourselves of the next step in the process which is to petition.
Gaming Commission directly for impacted surrounding community status so I believe
it's important that we have the data to be able to make
a presentation to the Gaming Commission and so that's why I am requesting that this
amount of twenty two thousand be appropriated from the stabilization fund to be
able to fund
a study we've sought and received. Requests proposals
from about seven or eight different firms who are qualified to do this work which
we've done through our legal council we've narrowed it down this funding would
allow us to immediately engage one or one of the of the
two to three finalists for that. I would add that while I'm asking the city council
to put this money forward to allow me to move forward with this study I also fully
intend in January to submit to the Gaming Commission there's
a separate process which allows communities to seek reimbursement for expenses
related to this surrounding community process including legal fees and including
economic studies and other research so I fully intend to do that. In addition I've
also been in conversations with the local business community some one of whom you
heard from this evening who share the concerns that I have about these potential
impacts and they are very supportive of such
a study and I've been receiving financial commitments from members of the business
community including the chamber including the business improvement district
including Iron Horse Entertainment Group and others who are willing to help
contribute to this to help defray the cost if in fact we are not able to get
reimbursed from your state or from M.G.M.
For this study so I apologize that that it's sort of coming forward late in the
game. This has been
a very strange game for communities to play up and you know two or three months ago
it was very difficult to know whom you were supposed to be negotiating with were
you supposed to negotiate with hard rock. Mohegan star from the National
And so really it's clarified now to this one potential licensee and now the sort of
the game is afoot if you will to yesterday M.G.M.
Announced that they had reached their very first surrounding community agreement
with the town of Ludlow and the town of Ludlow has agreed to first of all I believe
it's fifty thousand dollars reimbursement from M.G.M.
For similar economic impact studies and legal costs as well as an annual payment of
about a good seventy five thousand dollars
a year I know that they're in negotiations with other communities in and around
Springfield and the goal of course is to try to get those negotiations completed by
December thirty first so that they can submit an application. That contains as many
of these types of agreements as possible. So that's sort of the lay of the land and
so that's why I believe it's important for us to move quickly and I would seek the
council's permission to move forward on this and that's why I'm seeking this
funding authorization to do it the mitigation that the overthrow of the state
clearly acknowledges that there's an impact and per some reason they don't look at
it is
a nuclear meltdown that it seems to stop at borders and the impacts don't really
radiate much beyond that but the. The My concern is of course mitigation fees are
merely They go to the community they go to the city of the municipality or the town
they don't go to the business owners who clearly will be stressed by the loss of of
Patron pool the patron pool would actually impact the businesses and if those
businesses fail virtually in this community or say luck seventy five thousand
dollars doesn't get you
a lot when all is said and done it basically doesn't sustain the community which is
what we were why we were lie on all these industries just to make this community
work it makes perfect I'm I'm glad that we're doing this study I do wish we had it
in hand to begin with I wish we had it to start so that we because the the time
line that that prescribed is so narrow that it's
a really bad time of year to actually get anything done or you know the.
I'm really disturbed at the fact that this is sort of. Shrugged off that somehow
North Hampton would not be impacted or that Northampton's just wants
a taste of this rich casino wealth that's coming down the pike I would much rather
not see the casino I would much prefer that and any mitigation that comes is not
going to compensate at all for our sense of place it doesn't come close you don't
buy that I'm sure of that I think because he knows function their corporate system
they're designed to generate revenue and money for their corporation and for their
investors. We're community system or a system that's designed to sustain
a community and what we value in the community and we run across purposes and the
state has decided to sanction
a casino I for profit industry and give it essential in noncompetitive zone
protection from competition anywhere other than the locally owned businesses who
don't enjoy that protection and I can't I actually fully expect this report is
going to reveal. All the things that I believe we all know in our heart of hearts
is true that the casino uses entertainment and food
and drink as
a loss leader they don't make their money and that if they did they would have come
here years ago and set up in Springfield as is the glamorous M.G.M.
Restaurant bar entertainment important they're here for the gambling gambling it's
and I and I I wrote recently that there were purposes to work it as
a bug like you were trapped the patronage pool and you keep them there you don't
let them go outside they stay on campus and they invest their money there and so
they're going to offer you meals and drinks at
a much cheaper rate they're going to poach from our own businesses here in this
community they're going to take restaurants that have that might have some success
here inflict them there but that revenue doesn't come back to the community does
not come back to Northampton by any means and we don't get those customers back I
think twenty two thousand dollars is
a very small investment at least prove to the state in some way beyond screaming at
them which I've been doing for
a while but to prove and document what we all believe to be true and real here. If
I could just respond to that before. Just like I think that we are one of the only
communities that is unique in that we fit into that that category of really you
know we are kind of the entertainment and cultural hub for Western Mass I think we
could craft a creative agreement. With them that could that wouldn't just be
a payment to the city for example it could include there's
a I think there are creative ways to do it to help. Provide funding around
marketing and tourism in and and out some of the concerns we have about our
entertainment venues I think there's ways that we can do that but of course to date
we haven't been able to even get
a conversation started so so again that I think I think and again I
think we we all know it we all feel it but. Standing before the gaming commission
we're going to need a little bit more than
a feeling and so we need we really need to have this data to be able to submit to
them as part of our application so in
a high stakes game we're common Lord for Penny and he poked pickup poker and we
don't have a lot of you know of
a lot of forces to bring to bear. Except possibly this report. We have the
report and we have I believe we have the language of the law that was he that we
have legislative report support is Repco cotton and Senator Sam
Rosenberg I I do not I haven't actually had an opportunity to scuffs this with them
I mean this is kind of
a regulatory process that I'm not sure legislators are necessary going to wade into
but legislators Portas here already done their job I think they really waited I
think this is true but locals legislators have actually voted in favor of this and
I think to some it disseminates then we least if they weighed in and chimed in or
at least gave us some recommendations here on how we have coaches I don't think
that's inappropriate for them. We can certainly do that I just would add that this
is
a commission that's been appointed as an independent commission independent of the
legislature independent of the executive and has very strong authority and power so
we'll have to make the case to the house so I think counts are the barge barges
thank ready Thank you. I agree with this I think this is something that we need to
look for very serious like. I think are you asking for to vote yes tonight I
understand that didn't quite get around to the gender but I obviously I will again
as I said if I get the authorization will be engaging someone I meet and beginning
work because I am very concerned. Knowing how many small bit says we have in the
city going through a recession and then having
a casino coming which is really neighbors to was I'd like to know Mayor
I mean we're not going to have control of what the Gambling Commission makes the
decision of where they're going to go ahead and who allow us to go to Springfield
if M.G.M.
Does go there my question is whatever we do with this independent study
you then would go to them and say this is what is going to happen to our city this
is what's going to happen to our small businesses or whatever in the city All right
so you do do that what do you do if they say OK we will give you so much
money
a year how would you just tribute that money. You really I'm not sure that I.
I feel it's appropriate for me to talk about that. Now because I feel like that's
part of
a negotiation that we have to have with them and I but I mean wouldn't that money
be used to help businesses in this setting if most definitely this would be I mean
this is an impeccable amik impact we're not making an argument that that the casino
is going to tax our water system are going to tax our you know as we know the
strain on our traffic system this is purely about our local and so any sort of an
agreement that we craft would be geared towards mitigating and again I want to be
clear this is not about you know North Hampton versus Springfield I count my
grandson's bay there and I understand it's an impact and or stand why Springfield
pursuing this I've talked to there are about it he understands why I'm doing what
I'm doing to protect my city and but again the law was very clear and assurances
were made to communities that you know community impacts and mitigation were going
to be
a part of this whole licensure framework and so you know we're going to avail ourselves
of that I want to thank you as our mayor for doing what you're doing and moving on
this quickly and this needs to be down definitely Thank you.
Councillor Tracy it is. Just the state recognizes it impacts
a litany of impacts in all communities for these they actually recognize that they
said there is going to be an impact in every every study. All through
Maine. But it city they will talk about the impact in the surrounding community
from these casinos. And I see the word negative here and I'm glad that it's just
potential negative impacts because there's really no positive impact as far as I'm
I'm not a big supporter of casinos I'm not really
a supporter of taken twenty two thousand bucks out of the stabilization fund that's
already crippled I think. But I think it's probably going to be money that will be
. Well spent but do you think this study is going to say anything different than
every other study that's been done on this I think the difficult one how much clout
will this does he have in our presentation to the state. Again I
trying to hate to use
a gambling metaphor trying to keep my cards close to the vest here but I want you
to show me your I don't believe there's been any studies done by M.G.M.
Related to these sorts of impacts so at least in the Pioneer Valley and
particularly the North Hampton views of the Springfield so. So you know to the
extent that we provide information to the commission that's relevant to our
specific argument I think it's incumbent upon us to do that I don't think we can
stand before them and say you know we have arts and retail and entertainment what
we really want to be able to do is drill down into the numbers about you know
discretionary income and looking at median incomes and looking at spending patterns
and and these firms that we're talking with do these kinds of studies all around
the country they do them for they do them for casinos they do them for for
communities they have access to databases and economic numbers and they're
able to really drill down and be able to look at what are potential impacts hotel
room occupancy. You know spending in restaurants using you know using the kinds of
data that Mr McGovern was talking about the trade associations compile. And and you
know. Looking at things like you know meals tax and sales tax which we have
a lot of really good local specific data around these are all data points that
we'll be able to take
a look at and and so that's why I think it's important that we really provide with
something that's really focused on North Hampton I intend to support I just try to
wrap my head around whether or not it's going to be and again believe me I wish I
wasn't having to to dip into our stabilization account I wish we weren't having to
deal with this issue I'm not a supporter of the C.E.O.
Game. I'd rather spend my time working with the state on projects like the governor
announced yesterday which is going to create you know it's going to give funding
for communities to create infrastructure that's going to help support you know real
local and regional economic development those are the kinds of projects I'd like to
work with the state on but but along with supporting this I will also support the
financial commitments of local businesses that might want to help out with this
study. Thank you know that and they understand how important this is as well.
I support the sorters have
a couple times since you stated that the city hired tourney specializing in the
casino industry to negotiate
a key community agreement and that those negotiation didn't really get us very far
. So I have had I have had I had meetings with
representatives from M.G.M.
Myself officials front with officials of with officials from M.G.M.
Officials from Mohican Sun with the two primary folks that I've had meetings with.
Somewhat you know very. Formal preliminary types of discussions about different
issues. We've then as we moved into the latter stages of the process
because of the really strict requirements and timelines we really wanted to make
sure that we had the best advice around how to navigate the process and making sure
we were doing everything we needed to do to him to follow the law and so part of
that was you know formalizing our request to negotiate for negotiations through you
know legal correspondence and communication between our lawyer and and G.M.'s
lawyer so that was the decision to engage and that and in fact the our legal
counsel will in fact so the way the process works before the gaming commission is
when we after the deadline tolls on December thirty first we have ten days to file
for this file directly with them first for surrounding community status they'll
then essentially have a gaming commission will then hold
a hearing and we know this because in our council knows this because they've
already done sort of done this process on the slots licensing which is the earlier
process that they've already done and so essentially the way it's worked is. Sort
of is by would remind you of like an appellate argument before
a before an appellate court you know each side gets ten minutes or fifteen minutes
basically to make their argument and submit briefs and so so that will be the forum
in which we will have not only our legal counsel making arguments on behalf of the
city but then this particular consulting firm that we will be hiring to make
a presentation as well and then obviously the licensee will have an opportunity to
make
a presentation then the way the process works is that if. The assent. SALIE
there's
a thirty day arbitration process that they can go into effect if that's what the
M.G.M.
That's what the gaming commission decides where the century they give us thirty
days the parties thirty days to try to mediate
a solution and then ultimately the gaming commission can make a decision so it's
a very
a fairly. Tightly regulated system it's
a little bit of uncharted waters although we've Swedes sort of seen how the process
has worked in the slots licensing but that's why we we believed it was important
and council we're working with has worked with is representing other surrounding
communities in Massachusetts and so that's why we made that decision are they
prepared at the same rate as their solicitor in this case. In this case they are
not and and in part because of the short timeframe of the work and because of the
fact that we are going to be seeking reimbursement this is sort of the format that
we're following so we are paying them
a slightly higher as of the specialized nature and hopefully we can hear not
necessarily the not necessarily you're correct again I hate to keep coming back to
these metaphors but we're obviously gambling
a bit here but I believe again it's incumbent upon us not to gamble with.
With allowing this to proceed without without advocating for Northhampton and
potential loss how how how much if you want to say if you don't that's fine too the
entities that said they'd help offset this twenty thousand to one extent or they
contributed. Again so far we've just had verbal discussions and
again this is just over the last couple of days so there's obviously going to be
more discussions and more and more talk but. Trying to do some quick math in my
head I think right now we're about at I think five to six thousand has been
committed you know they get reimbursed if we're going Well I think the way and I
don't want to get into too much of this or I don't want to speculate too much about
it but clearly if we move forward and go through the reimbursement process and the
cities reimbursed then that would probably that would be one thing but in this case
I think we would see that as
a way to help defray those costs if in fact we were reversed. Not to then create
a situation where there's six or seven or eight or nine different people filing for
reimbursement I think it makes its makes more sense for us to put the money upfront
for the study and then and then seek reimbursement. But again I these
are strong commitments from the chamber from the bid and some from individual
business owners as well thank you. Thank you question from
a schedule question bringer it's what's the process by which
a. Mitigation agreement is I mean obviously the mayor you've negotiated for the
city does the Council approve it is it just signed. After you negotiated and how
has it worked Yeah actually that's
a good. We're so we haven't gotten that far I'd have to I'd have to
think about that obviously had I worked with them to come up with an agreement I
would certainly it would be my intent to bring back to the city council to. Form
new evidence secure I believe that's the process at least that was the process with
the host. I don't know that. I'll have to get back to you with
a specific answer on that exact procedure yeah well as I just want to know I mean
so far as you know the council will be able to see the agreement and be able to I
would I would be my Obviously my intent to consult with the Council on this
definitely Or maybe
a committee of the council or something Exactly so the other thing I want to echo
what counselor in the barge said. You know this study is done well it is
in certain respects
a double edged sword I mean it will also be what should also be formative about
the kind of mitigation we're looking for and where that where those funds or those
or those resources be are allocated and I just I hope that. Doesn't say it in the
order but I hope that. The you use the data not only to make the case that the
it's that the city will be affected because it will but also that the particular
elements of the city are addressed they have
a predicament we expect to be fact are addressed in the in the medication agreement
Thank you Steph and the other for some comments for before we go back to our.
One thing that I think regardless even if we don't get mitigation this report will
prove to be valuable as we try to figure out how we as
a community if we are going to get it and how we're going to rest for the problems
and the challenges that we're going to be facing and leases that will define the
landscape for us and we'll see what we're up against so in that respect it's
a it's a it's
a thoughtful investment and. Even if it doesn't succeed in swaying the commission.
There's one other thing that when when gambling was certified in casino gambling
was authorized and certified here in the state at the time the Arden was of course
the money was draining out to Connecticut vast quantities this huge gushing flow of
money and the idea was that when they established these. Casinos that it would
retain the money that's flowing out to Connecticut at the same time the expand and
attract money from Vermont in New Hampshire New York well right now New Hampshire
in New York are both. About to approve Pacino's which then means that the catchment
area for this casino that now going looks like it might happen is much smaller it's
reduced to principally the pine and Ellis are going to go out east because whatever
casino gets
a separate the two other casinos going to stablish in the east are going to grab
that group so all the only people they're going to try to appeal to are the people
that North Hampton relies on or are our resources in our sense of places I said
so even if that report doesn't. I hope it does I hope it
does but it may be we will have that love
a sense of where the discretionary dollars are coming from how they migrate and
what we get hopefully do in in trying to offset the impact of those that will
surely realize Councillor Mark. Another concern I have
is I think worth more in son at one point the selectmen
and select woman from Palmer also were invited to the casino. They had some kind of
a conference going on where that part of the government was some volves would we be
doing that also being involved with any kind of mediation that's going on or just
you yourself made the case of the Board of Selectmen they are the executive for
a town so that's why the Board of Selectmen. So in the communities where it's
a mare form of government it's the mayor that's usually involved in those in those
negotiations so that's the difference and I can assure you I won't be taking any
trips to any M.G.H.
. I didn't take thought after tasting Yeah I want to caution everybody and remind
everybody two of the last two commitments for reimbursement from the state one
being the ash and spray in the well they never materialized either so.
Well I do want to comment about this because I know casinos very well I worked out
of them for many many many years and I think Mr McGovern's analogy of
a black hole is very very accurate for what casinos do. They draw in money
but only to the casino and they not only draw in money from outside the state
potentially but they draw in money from the neighborhoods and the communities where
the casino is and from the casinos around there I mean you've heard me speak
disparagingly about our great general court before but this is probably the most
despicable thing the state has ever forced on us the legislature in the governor
because this is the greatest form of progressive taxation you can come up with this
hurts the most vulnerable members of our community this hurts the people that no
legislature legislator in Massachusetts would ever vote for
a tax this regressive but they bring us casinos and it kills these people it hurts
families the most vulnerable families and hurt small businesses in the area. Always
the most vulnerable people the only reason the state went for this is because they
feel they're going to profit share in this but frankly every dollar they collect.
They're going to end up spending to solve the collateral damage at these places
cause because the casinos don't solve the community problems in the family problems
in the business problems in the crime problems the state has to do that and it's
going to suck up every dime they end up getting from this in the long run and even
Springfield I mean they have to I think try and fiddle around with provisions of
Proposition two in the levy ceiling to even collect this money because I think
they're like bashing into their levy ceiling under Proposition two now so even
though they're greedy about it they've got to get some special relief from
proposition to even take the money the tax money from the casino into the whole
thing is on sustainably insane you know so I'm happy to support this but I mean
there's been
a failure at any level of government that thinks that the profit sharing that
they're going to get out of this is going to be worth the damage that they're going
to have to try and fix in their communities in the long run I mean anybody doesn't
believe that should take a trip down to Atlantic City and walk don't walk
a block away from the casino because you'll be murdered probably but it's it
doesn't take much looking around to tell. The problems that this is going to cause
in the long run and I'm I'm going to a meeting in Las Vegas next week you know
a mecca of this kind of stuff and that community's you know
a unique place but it should really stay that way you know people should have the
voluntarily fly into the middle of this thinking desert to do this sort of thing at
because there's nothing else there to destroy but here it's going to be
a terrible thing in the long run and it's very shortsighted by the governor in the
legislature who gone down this road and tempted the government to do the same it's
awful sorry so what you're saying is adamant about that which is what happens in
Vegas stays in Vegas so much we do that well and in Atlantic City perhaps. But it's
it's a terrible thing and and whatever mitigation we get from them is going to be
a drop in the bucket to what it does to our communities our most vulnerable
citizens in our small businesses it's
a terrible terrible decision that was made well well beyond our level but it's
a scary thing counselor I intend to support this and there's really nothing good
about
a casino expression which And it's all negative and I'm not I I don't support casinos
in any way shape or form but. I'm happy to support this and I'd like to call it
question. Any other comics so all in favor of
a positive recommendation and he post. Thank you very much.
For.
The long run. Upon the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee order
that whereas the North Upton community Conservation Commission submitted an
application for Community Preservation Act funds for an ecological assessment of
open space and where is the project will develop
a plan to be approved by the Conservation Commission that will allow for effective
management of Northampton's open spaces protecting habitat and biodiversity whereas
the project meets the goals of the North Hampton sustainability plan and space
recreation multi-use trail plans and whereas on November twentieth two thousand and
thirteen the Northampton Community Preservation Commission voted unanimously to
recommend that thirty thousand dollars in community provision Preservation Act Pons
be used to support this project now therefore be it ordered that thirty thousand
dollars be appropriated from the Community Preservation Act One Act funding to the
Conservation Commission for the North Hampton ecological assessment and face plant
and that the granting meets the conditions approved by the Community Preservation
Committee the mayor and the City Council specifically thirty thousand is
appropriated from the C.P.A.
Budget reserved for this purpose to recommend. Truck and we have
little valley here tonight recommended Sara Lee Valley second of eight I.
Think. So as you know the Conservation Commission has really really great at
acquiring open spaces you know. Priority space
purchases but something that's
a little more difficult has been effective management of this of these areas and
prioritizing what we should do and what's best for the environment and things that
we should we should tackle first and was really
a priority so the Community Preservation Committee felt that this was
a really important project to allow the conservation to do that. Which is where.
We don't have
a plan we do not not currently know we continue to absorb space by hundreds of
acres I think twenty three percent of the land mass of the city in North it is now
conservation protected in some way so what we're looking at more to take on tonight
so what the plan what the city does have is an open space and Recreation plan which
has overarching goals for how we should be managing our land but as far as the
nitty gritty details of how we should do that how do we control invasive species
what are the threats what are the opportunities were the commission doesn't really
know how to do them. A Let that go in.
A couple of hours. There are I have concerns here about the open space and
with the land that have been buying at the meeting that we
had just recently. Allowing hunters to hunt on conservation
land it was brought up by several residents especially like on suggest
a road area with salt hills and there that when people are walking the trails
now here we've gotten property but they are saying that the there is
nothing being marked what the city versus private property. And
private property owners are complaining about how the city is not
doing surveying and marking the property of the city on its cell
would this be included that will not that's
a separate issue that's being addressed by conservation areas so we're currently
working on serving and more all of the lives and properties that we've bought in
throughout the city York not up on have been survey so when you're making trails.
When you're doing the trails and there are not property lines many of our
conservation areas have been posted and white and most of them have been surveyed
but were rather taken filling those and out and they had the property lines set up
you can see the stakes not all of them do but all of the new acquisitions include
that as part of that because that is generally And we're working on going back
pressure but I'm just saying that's
a really important serious weakness people are complaining about.
And your other questions are part. Just to be clear SARAH So this is actually
we're talking about
a plan that will be for effect of management as it says here for being able to as
you mentioned determine what the level of invasive species is and biological
habitat considerations Yes So this is kind of the nitty gritty that you referred to
as opposed to the overarching open space recreation plan that we do is out in the
city and I think to which councilor Tacey might have been referring when he was
asking about whether we have a plan you know
a space plan because I've heard it referenced many times and. In many different
capacities so I just want to us to be clear that there is an open space and
Recreation Yeah absolutely so this would be
a major died and this is detailed about the habitat management of habitat and
ecological considerations on that land Yeah and this would be by conservation areas
so we could see for example in Fitzgerald's what are what are the threats that
invasive species are made of habitats and how should we be addressing when there's
the same in every area is it mostly about. Plant life and that type of thing are
there so that you mentioned also habitats or does this as Council of barge
mentioned this have any impact and so the current discussion about the hunting and
it could potentially a far consultant decides that one particular area has
a particular concern was D.
Or that there's
a lot of overgrazing and they're damaging the habitat but. That may not come up it
is really just
a way of generating data and getting information about those particulars on these
diseases Thanks. Come before consultation anyone over here before we go back to.
You know if they continue to hear all the time as we go through these different
blocks of land that we acquired of wildlife corridors and invasive plants I made
her this all before and every one of these. Purchases of these acquisitions and I
really am astounded that there isn't
a plan for management I had just assumed that as we continue to take all of this
and that and then when I look at more that we're going to get it again take tonight
or purchase or acquire it just strikes me as odd what the commission does now is
that they go after big problems for example at the quarry of Mineral Hill there was
a tremendous problem with invasive species and some funding became available so we
tackle the problems there but sort of just piecemeal as funding becomes available
and we don't have an overarching plan for how to deal with that. So I would think
that what we would continue that we would come up with a plan
a management plan before we can take any more land it was the idea that image that
we have already people like you are telling us that we don't even know if we can
manage what we have or how are we going to go about it it's managing for ecological
health OK thank you we just want to make sure that we're doing that is as best we
can yeah I think we're getting confused in terms here and maybe that's the language
which is drafted maybe that's part of. A Minute from planned is there's varying
degrees of management plan in the original management plan the plan the curtain the
overarching management plan the council Carney referred to is the one that deals
with acquisition and deals with management. Issues that are more mete.
Am I safe in assuming that they're. The deal with the more and this is one that
addresses as you described it the nitty gritty This is
a management plan that that allows you the flexibility to be more proactive or
less than reactive as you're describing Yes exactly and this would also be an
update of
a plan that was done about twenty years ago of the city's open space at that time
which has been incredibly valuable for the commission but is obviously known out of
date right there's there's been substantial land acquisition since then and. And
and then to mention other variables like climate change and other things that might
that might precipitate
a need for this thank. Any other on this one. Comes
to Freeman days. Correct me if I'm wrong but some of the conservation land that
tell me about the land that's where the conservation restriction is held by. The
broader coalition or something I mean they. Do this kind of ecological management
themselves and second
a broader coalition is incredibly active in dealing with invasive species so
happily that's that's one area where we wouldn't really have as many problems to
deal with. But some areas there really hasn't been much habitat management and
there's. All kind of so. Conservation land that's
owned by the city but held by other it's this would also fall under this yes
absolutely it wouldn't include land on which the city holds
a conservation restriction so it would only be the city's land yes land that
privately owned Yes city holds its But this could potentially. Work to generate
some goals and objectives for private landowners see as well. So.
That's interesting. I mean how much more would have just to do the one to also
include the ones that the city. Has for what we don't we don't really know at this
point this is just sort of a baseline figure to allow us to hire
a consultant to do some really detailed work but including additional areas we're
not really sure about but adjacent landowners could certainly use the
recommendations to manage their own property as well but isn't it when the city
holds a C.R.
Isn't it the case that they have to but the city is in charge of the assessment and
that the property owners in charge of the actual man at the actual. Management
generally when the city holds a C.R.
We're just ensuring that this is permanently protected forever so the owner does
both the Met the assessment and the management in almost all cases yes a C.R.
Can have affirmative responsibilities for the city I can't think of any off the top
of my head which we have responsibilities in addition to ensuring the land is
protected while. So the city really can't even
the city is not even responsible for figuring out whether the land that is
conserved is being overrun by invasive Zor as
a degraded ecological That's correct. OK So this is
a drop in the bucket is what you're telling me well it's not
a drop in the bucket the commission does have
a considerable considerable amount of protected open space and
a lot of hard conservation restriction partners would would be incredibly
interested in using this plan to manage their own property as well as in some cases
it's just that they don't know what the issues are any other questions on this one
but then all those in favor of
a positive recommendation say are. Opposed abstain
not using the vote at all. I'm going to say no.
Sure will spills because I want to get a caution about it or get
a cup All right. The next one is upon
the recommendation of the Preservation Committee order that were as home city
housing submitted an application for the Community Preservation Act funding for the
rehabilitation of twenty two of the next to expand your central.
Real true There we go. And stay on the list. It begins the same whereas the
Northampton Office of Planning and sustainability submitted a C.V.
Application for design and construction of
a multi-use trail from Leeds to Williamsburg and where is the project meets the
goals of the Sustainable North Hampton plan an open space recreation and multi-use
trail plan and whereas the project serves more than one C.P.
a Program area where a C.P.A.
Funds will be used as
a match for Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants and whereas on Nov
twentieth two thousand and thirteen the Northampton Community for Preservation
Committee voted unanimously to recommend two hundred fifty thousand dollars in
Community Preservation Act funds to be used in support of this project and whereas
at least one public meeting should be held prior to the creation of construction
documents to allow the public input on design of the project including but not
limited to import on the finished surface of the rail trail on ways to minimize the
removal of trees and other vegetation during construction Now therefore be ordered
the two hundred fifty thousand dollars be appropriated for unity present action
Preservation Act funding to the North Hampton Office of Planning and sustainability
for the know
a lot of mass central real trail extension project and that the grantee meets the
conditions approved by the Community Preservation for the mayor and the City
Council specifically that two hundred fifty thousand is appropriated from the
C.P.A.
Budgeted reserve for this purpose move to recommend second I think it. Councilor
Adams. The order doesn't state. The amount of of trail to be extended
so it's but it's to the chair of the the commune preservation of any state in his
memory and that's point five but I thought I read I did read
a different. Different number in the newspaper is it point five It is it's
a twenty five in total so there's two different segments the part that's covered by
the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant is owned by the city. And the
other portion is really an easement over so it's not eligible for those funds but
the two combined are plenty five miles. The two combined are yes so what are they
individually it's I think it's point three five and a half
a mile when there. Are seven. That's pretty odd.
Other questions or comments. It's is it. A quarter
million dollars for less than
a mile of bike trail that further gets us closer and closer to
something perhaps Williamsburg decided I would like to be part of this rail trail
but that's not the going rate I hope for. For the two hundred fifty
thousand dollars a mile to. To extend
a rail trail this is about on par with past you know past costs and this is doing
the crushed stone as opposed to the pavement. That's why the the where ass clause
is in there requiring the planning office to hold
a public meeting because that that's not really determined at this point in the
committee didn't want to make that call and they wanted the neighbors involved
because it's crushed stone leads trail there it's crushed stone currently current
and it turns after that. I think and one of the question is if this is
a Pave surfaces somehow figure into stormwater management and as well
perhaps oh. That proposed ordinance example.
Say for the comic come anybody for the concert AC No it's almost to the penny per
foot. This number whether. We're aware is
a stretch relative to the bridge so this stretch includes the bridge is is where
this excludes the bridge and we'll go to the limit billions right so this goes over
the bridge at us it goes over the bridge that's already been funded to be taken
care of the arts here OK and the other comment on this one and then get what you
know there was no transportation grant money in this there was not No So these
funds will only be if the Federal land and water to ration fund Grant is received
and that will be the local match there and also the money to fund the additional
portion of trail that isn't covered by the grant and if the grant isn't received
them this will be returned to the C.P.A.
And still no movement in Williamsburg yet they have they have agreed with me and
they they've made
a lot of progress over the last few years and they were working closely with them
with them and they have a lot of support in
a community you know something in this you take into consideration what are park
and ride facility and things such as that is all this part of
a I mean it's part of the larger green way rail trail vision but it's not specific
. Should just be clear this is
a quarter million dollars invested to that. If the dead end
a real good ending it we are hoping to connect to the roads in one book but
currently there are those right away disputes on the Williamsburg side.
As I recall anyway and so essentially settle. People Northampton will not be
invited to bike beyond that point I don't believe those are in the process of it's
in the Goetia Asians
a million but it's been negotiations for almost twenty years now so but I just I
just want to point out that. Unlike a bridge to nowhere this is
a bike path that will end at that point and more we're doing up to the terminus.
Aren't the right of it is in Williamsburg beyond the point where this is going to
enter Williamsburg I believe that I think there are further up the line so there
are some issues with connecting further on towards right but can't doesn't this get
you at least two if eleven or yeah to there so you can leave the end of
a bike path and keep going because I think it's the other side of Route nine. That
they're having all the right away probably not this will get you at least some
public way in Williamsburg they won't get two hundred nine OK that far but it gets
you to Fairfield that in this and that you can hundred feet right then you could
double back and switch back and get on Route nine that way but as opposed to
getting on Route nine where that would naturally access with
a rail trail where the rail line actually went all the way through it and. If the
properties were not disputed but it doesn't leave you with
a stone wall you know you don't know you can turn it over it grows more at home
with your sound bite and I only at my only point being perhaps I'm being too cute
but when we've had
a lot of disputed. Purchases and acquisitions along the lines of. That
have been less clear with more and more solid Jakob's we've had resistance in this
case we are not and I actually agree with the principle I think it's right I think
it's just I think a real trails is
a very appropriate network and system to have for the city and I think it's an
asset and to that end I would have I wouldn't dispute this but I just like you know
to compare it to other Project Greenlight for instance or something along that line
which is also it was wholly appropriate and that I was very much for and still am
that. There seems to be is
a pick and choose resistance and I'm not sure what the what the criteria are. Also
expect it's my clarifying. Concer do I talked about this just dead ending
a property that's that's privately owned does it or their properties that it would
go through whether there is
a dispute about this properties or not or does it end at
a street itself it's just not at
a street OK so that's very different I just know as
a somebody who likes the trails and this happens all over where you're the trail
and somewhere in that you're on
a street which I just didn't want have the impression of and and you had
a property owner's house and all you can then do is turn around. And that's it
that's very honest when you can actually turn before it on Fairfield and get down
but it does it would exceed the Northampton line actually. Thirty feet there is
basically a stop right there not to nothing so in your way of event but there is
a street right there there it. Was about one hundred feet I think beyond Fairfield
Avenue OK You know I think I know about that ferry right. Closer to me Daniel's
where you and I stole the land swap. So if we're done with this one all in
favor of a positive recommendation I would get both OK. Now in
a strange sense of deja vu on the recommendation of the Community Preservation
Committee order that whereas home city housing submitted an application for
Community Preservation Act funding for the rehabilitation of twenty two twenty four
New South Street and where is the project ensures that one thousand units of
affordably restricted housing downtown that is from Ronnie's with the surrounding
community will continue to be available whereas
a project will result in the restoration of an important structure and the downtown
National Historic Register and whereas on November twentieth two thousand and
thirteen the Northampton Community Preservation Committee voted unanimously to
McMahon the two hundred fifty thousand dollars in Community Preservation Act funds
to be used to support this project now therefore he ordered two hundred fifty
thousand be appropriated for from the community present act Preservation Act funds
to the twenty to thirty four new South Street Apartment restoration project and
that the grantee meets the conditions approved by the Community Preservation
Committee the mayor and the Council specifically that one hundred sixty one
thousand one hundred twenty six dollars is appropriated from the C.P.A.
Historic preservation reserve account the twenty six thousand three hundred seventy
four dollars is from the C.P.A.
Budgeted reserve and sixty two thousand five hundred dollars as from the affordable
housing reserve account and psycho comments questions.
A council of March. I support this I think just
hearing from insult child services some veterans affairs from house in partnership
of the necessity keeping affordable housing here in the city. I
can recall way back when we went in RI did that section over before and I
think consular you were involved with the consulate is with us. This is
a project that we really need to look at we really need to support the and
there is
a significant. Character that the house like that's very valuable for the city of
Northampton. I'm going to support this because of the affordability and we need
this and it needs to be cake and care. For Tracy I'd have to
ask them the merit always recognized. The hundred sixty five thousand two hundred
thirty thousand dollars that was in the settlement agreement wasn't that for one of
Asian It was a for a combination of renovation for the hotel. I made
a run of nation and. Formally and it was my get my question is
it seems to me that this place gets rehab quite often. Really the research that I I
can't quote that off the top of my head there was some funding that was part of
that agreement as well as I believe I believe there were some more recent.
Than I don't call them negotiations but some settlement around and was transferred
to the current owner that set resolve some of those issues and also expand
experience of the research and so. I don't really I can't I'd have to do some
research on that for you counselor that predated my ministrations so I'd have to
look into that so I just kind of curious as to how many times that we will put
money into this this building and how much is going to so far I mean it just seems
like the hotel was just
a few years ago. And. I mean I think I've seen it renovated
three times I did it once myself in
a bit I'm just kind of curious as to why that needs to be renovated again and what
what the what the issues are. Those are what. The the unique feature of
this particular property is that it is the only system for affordable housing
currently in the downtown area of Northampton North Hampton is different from
a lot of other communities where. The. People.
With needs. Do not live in the downtown core that they're in and with him it's kind
of strange that more or less relegated to projects that were developed in the post
war to the periphery off bus lines in some cases and have no access this is
this in the form wasn't complex it actually is is is critical. And as the case with
all I was in projects that provide the housing for Section eight vouchers among
others. I think it's in and also given the fact of the city's
preference to. Keep the downtown area from appearing blighted.
That we that any commitment that we have to maintain systems and services in that
in that state that that. The community considers appropriate and certainly the
people of their consider appropriate and amenable I think it's all to the good.
That goes with Specter Yeah just
a little quick math and and council you know doing kind of work you do that can be
very costly in these eighteen units if you provide that two hundred fifty thousand
dollars up we're talking about thirteen thousand nine hundred dollars per unit
which doesn't go very far in terms of renovations so you know you're talking
thirteen thousand dollars for you know I'm not sure what work is but it doesn't
seem like it doesn't seem like
a huge amount of money and the hotel. Piece was quite
a few years ago so you know two hundred fifty thousand dollars more to about one
thousand units and this is a rather large structure you know it is not
a great amount of money to do renovations and they're going to come up all that you
know perhaps every few years. Else or else I support this project completely but.
This Order's outstandingly vague. I mean it really is just give you some detail if
you could please relay that to the drafters I mean this just tells us very little
and the there is a little more detail in the end they are C.B.C.
Chairs the chair of the C B C's definition explanation on the memorandum but
this tells us very little in relation to. This order. Those are the ones I agree
with that I mean actually in the narrative that says this project includes finding
some replacement painting and all the work needed to secure the building on board.
And I think I think at least for purposes for our deliberations. You know more
detail explaining will think we necessarily. Think we need no scope of work and
with
a counselor Freeman in I believe I echo that. I really do appreciate the.
Memo from the chair but I think that teacher C P A grants
should include the. The list of conditions that the that the C.P.C.
. Places on the grantees with the order that the Council sees
the council accept those conditions I don't think can amend them but at least the
council can see should and could see them I think with every single order that the
C.P.C.
Asks us to approve Thank you. I will support it because it just it is
too vague there is nothing that I don't like it about future ones I look at this
one right here and I'm not any way to vote any way you want but I I won't support
it until I know
a little more about where the money is going to what it's going to do. So I could
use any other if I could just echo I can with cancer from Dana's about if if these
orders could stay to conditions I think don't be even more helpful for
clarification Thank you. But may I just just a comment that. We just passed
a real trail one with. The same paucity of of information without any discussion
thread then on the other ones for now. I'm concerned that. They don't quite meet
the the quality I agree I absolutely agree with. Counsel Freeman
doing his proposal I think I'd be very helpful but I also don't get. The absence of
information in this case actually warrants
a no vote but maybe because that same absence exists for the no water
tension so if that's the case then all these should receive no because the
that applies to every single one of these appeals and these appropriations but. I'm
going to give every want to yes. Because I believe that I know that this is been
thoroughly vetted and I and I would personally like to see more reflection of what
that looks like but at the same time I know it's the it's that disparity
that concerns are based. On the real trial I know exactly what we all know exactly
what was there that we're going to cut some trees which will gravel and and are
going to do with Types of
a paved surface period we know that you don't know anything about this you don't
know what's going to. That so you're not even comparing apples to apples and I
think it's going to news. And I agree and disagree with counsel I mean I agree that
I think we both agree that the C.P.C.
Takes his job very seriously. It is
a good body for oversight it typically lays down significant conditions.
Sure there's always that there's always a. Mistake or you know
a project that's funded that the community sometimes members of the community
always agree with but I think that the in general they come up with good projects
and the generally please to support them so I don't think the process is is poor
but I do think that the council would be better would be very well informed too to
see more detail especially the conditions and the that are put on the grantees and
and I actually was able to go into the website today and and look at the at the
at some of the some of the questions and answers and so on and so forth and there
is it's actually
a of wealth of information so it's not it's not like it's unavailable but it also
is. Following following trying to get information minister government is very
difficult so I think it would be very valuable to actually just put it instead of
having
a link to the website actually just put it in the order you don't know exactly what
it was going to say so those are going to do you want to. Know I don't have any
comment on this so I intend to support this. And. I don't feel like I need to have
the details of what will be in each of these eighteen units that are single
single occupancy and we know that that doesn't make up
a I'm prepared to support the statement based on the recommendation from the C.D.C.
. You know. It's one it I just want us.
More information for three years. Since it exists just literally about packaging
and and I do think that the project is tremendously valuable to us as
a community in support of affordable housing and wanting to have it be in the
condition that we all think it should be and so I think it's an excellent sort of
use of C.P. Funds. It was
a valley did when when this we were there when this was presented at C.B.C.
I was and they never at any point and then
a fight exactly how much money has been put into this building. They gave they did
give an overview and they outlined some of the issues that they've had in the past
there renovations that were done I think it ten years ago included resetting the
building on its foundation which was
a really significant unanticipated expense and the that projects initially to post
include all of this work but that I'm patient is what funds as you know
historically that's one one I have
a very good historical perspective on this because
a clear Higgins and I were on the housing partnership like twenty years ago before
she was even elected to anything and John Donne submitted the voodoo development
plan for this place I mean it is
a nasty all wood frame building and is the second black hole to be on our agenda
tonight you know that the vagueness doesn't matter because this is probably the
most high maintenance building with the housing and. It doesn't matter that it's
fake because about every ten years you have to pour two hundred fifty thousand
dollars into this place yes it was falling off its foundation it was twenty years
ago. It's always going to need this kind of injection of funding until it either
falls over or burns down I mean it's
a really high I mean and stuff building to do this kind of housing and so yeah I
worry it's
a little bit vague but it really doesn't matter because this this structure. The
way it's constructed is just going to always be
a money pit. Forever so it's
a tough thing. So if it's historical building if it's off its foundation you
actually have to think of historical building and historical foundation so that's
you know that's an assistant Oracle all the way down to the ground and these are
the people that did sue us. You know for some of this money so some of what we give
to him and some of them they sue is for. The flow shall never see us counselor
Adams he'll be around longer than I will but sometime the next twenty years in city
government you're going to be given him another two hundred fifty thousand dollars
is this think this tough old wood frame building that's going to suck money forever
. Just so that it said in charge. And just
regarding Then the vagueness of the orders these are based upon the committees if
you know that the applications which were in most cases are really very extensive
and those are all available online and and reference through these orders but if
there's an if you have any concerns I'd be happy to take this back and revise it if
you wanted to table your boat today. Any other of those concepts and really
familiar with the building falling down you climbing here to get from one of the
kitchen to the other for years the kitchens the floors were so bad. Very sold to
wireless oil jacked up one end of it and then I wanted to know when the M H I C and
several their agencies since then they've all thrown money into it including the
city of Northampton over the years so but it would have been helpful to said maybe
we're going to do bathrooms or something was wrong with the place inside or
something would've been helpful this is only for exterior work so just Mr This is
only to do the things that are listed and I was weak and that was what your menu
from the summit was to I thought it was for Ruth citing That's all right. I'll
support it but I would like to see more detail in the future. On these requests
or any other discussion on this one. Then all in favor I. And I'm going to say nay
because I didn't support it twenty years ago and it still does said so in the
interest of continuity also no. Right.
On the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee order that whereas
the Northampton Board of Public Works submitted an application for community
present act Preservation Act funding. For fun for the perpetration of design plans
and construction documents for the renovation of Alaska park whereas plasty Park is
an important downtown resource and the project will build upon existing work and
public process to rehabilitate the park as well as inclusion of additional public
input and where is the project meets the goals of the Sustainable North Hampton
plan and the open space recreation of multiuse plans and whereas on November
twentieth two thousand and thirteen the Northampton Community Preservation
Committee voted six to two to recommend that one hundred ninety four thousand five
hundred dollars in C.P.A.
Funds be used to support this project another Ford be ordered that one hundred
ninety four thousand five hundred dollars be appropriated from the Community
Preservation Act funding to the plasti park renovation project and that the grantee
meets the conditions approved by the Community Preservation Committee the mayor and
the City Council specifically that one hundred ninety four thousand five hundred
dollars is appropriated from the C.P.A.
Budgeted reserve motion for
a second discussion on this White House or days.
I'd like to table listen to we find out what we're going to do with the lot of the
high blood. Cells because I don't have
a clue as to what this is going to turn out to be and I don't think anybody in this
council would have
a magic ball here and the hundred ninety four thousand five hundred dollars is
a lot of money for design work I think on
a park that is really stashed in hard in the park to orange. I know
that might not be apples to apples but it just seems like. We have.
We have distinction we have specifics. In Florence and here you don't even know
what happened in this park we haven't got
a clue what you're doing will continue to table time as much as if it happened
until we figure out we're going to do with
a lot so is that to be hype and yes there is
a second for that on. The other
as it were in finance so yes do you want as many other questions comments yes I
have had. I would like to ask Sarah because I did call they can bring cards.
Of voting on the commission it was six to two what with the reason why I forgot the
. Shark and just one point of clarification to the mayor was also happens in this
project to border on the first. Primary holder so I. Could.
Put regarding the vote down to remember every single member agreed that this
project is extremely important and wanted to get them all rolling on renovations to
this incredibly important piece of the downtown However the vote wasn't unanimous
because some of the committee members thought it would have been more in procreate
to separate the design and public employee and operation of construction documents
into two separate projects so that that was the disparity it was in that they
didn't support the renovation or didn't want this to us that. If the mayor who is
recognized by could ask the mayor questions short it just like to get your input on
the statement which does make some sense to me this came up but extensively I peer
before the C.P.A. Committee in support of this project and in fact we we received
a letter which I don't think you would have gotten unless you had got the
application the full application but Tim love from you Teal has been
who's our consultant that's working on the Roundhouse Law Project has been. Clear
that he believes strongly that this that first of all the initial design work has
already begun on Plaskett park is excellent and he has encouraged the city to
continue moving forward with that and he actually submitted
a letter to me. Echoing that in terms of this particular application
I think one of the criticisms of the of or some of the criticism that came out
during the. During You know earlier round house redevelopment the earlier
project was that the development was going to drive what was happening in the park
and we really started from
a perspective in Mr Love who's the urban designer really started from
a perspective that the park should drive the development not vice versa so he
doesn't believe that the city should stop this process he reviewed the Stimson
drawings actually incorporated them into his presentation when he did the public
presentation so he was very supportive of that thank you I can also speak to the if
I could to the question Counselor Tacey raise because this came up to about the
price tag of this particular park this is an urban park it's and
interestingly there's actually
a. Significant urban park restoration program going on throughout the commonwealth
primarily focused on gateway communities but I can tell you that Veterans Park in
Holyoke was just renovated very similar sized park acreage wise same sort of thing
sidewalks monuments grass one point four million dollars was the price tag
Fitchburg just did their gate the park and it was one point five million dollars So
these are estimates that are in line with these kinds of parks. That we're seeing
around the commonwealth and again we not only have the earlier Nancy Denecke study
I was actually on that as Ward four count. So I was on that original the first
Poleski park redesign Committee has worn for Councillor where we work with Nancy
then again she produced
a great design then the design process was reopened and it was basically open to
the public any it was sort of
a free open design competition that both citizens and professionals could submit
designs to and it's taken several years and now we've gotten to this stage where
the B P W advanced this Stimpson concept and I can also say that Mr Love strongly
endorsed Simpson as
a design firm who we know one of the top design firms in the nation's Bay They
would be an excellent person to work with and then the final point of course is we
came up with all those great designs but we could never do anything with them
because the C.P.A.
Law present prevented us from from doing what we're doing trying to do tonight
which is spend C.P.A.
Dollars on an existing park the original law only let you spend it on new parts
building new parks and it's only when it was amended in the last year or so that
we're now actually be able to come back to you and say we can actually fix up
a park that already exists so I'm
a strong supporter of this and I'm happy to answer any questions but I don't
believe waiting for the round house process is very good here.
Thank you. I also. Appreciated the remarks
that we heard tonight about actually letting the Park Drive whatever may happen in
that location rather than the reverse waiting for the round house as we know that.
One is that six years ago when we had the hotel proposal before us. There's
a significant public outcry around that and I think that we need to especially
around the impact on the park so the fact that we're placing park at the foreground
here and really placing the emphasis in that development before looking at the
Round House does seem appropriate to me and I do intend to support this tonight but
. I have
a few questions and I do believe this is it had acquitted detailed or I don't think
that there are equally it's big but. It's this far it's one project drive the
other. Someone in public on purpose I. Would sleep with
what you have so. Having us together rather than one project driving.
That isn't there that's it for you during the worst of all there are two different
first of all the plastic park is Chapter ninety seven Ark land its own control by
the D.P.W. The other parcel is
a city owned parcel. And again if you look at the report's not quite out yet but
if you look at the if you look at the initial work that was presented in the public
form around the round house lot again there's
a real yes the two the two are adjacent to each other but
there are. You know there's a still
a lot of uncertainty about what what the actual economic viability of
a development in the roundhouse lot is I think that's one of the things that came
through so far in the work and I don't think that moving forward with this project
is going to really preclude the two projects being coordinated in fact one of the
one of the issues that came up was that. Some of the work that's in the park itself
could could be part of a future R.F.P.
This lot could could ask
a developer to help contribute to the public benefit. That we're trying to create
in the park that could be one potential thing so I think it would be helpful let me
. Well it because it's
a very brief letter but I do think it's this again is from our pre-development
consultant thank you for providing an opportunity for you to mass development to
present our analysis of potential development scenarios for the round house lot we
found the audience receptive to our methodology this is all just sort of opening
boilerplate boilerplate. The public process for the round house lot made it
clear that there are only three possible outcomes supported by the public building
residential development with
a park facing community space over two levels structure parking no development
potential improvements to the stair between the municipal law and the park and
three a park
a parking garage with the same characteristics as option one above but with an
extension of open space above those are sort of the three broad scenarios that came
out of that process. Since option three cannot be financed
only options one of the ways forward and in either case the current proposal for
the redesign of Plaskett Park is an ideal compliment I'm also having the final park
design in place can positively affect the future of the round house lot by
providing
a more robust and meaningful full context for future designs in addition and
writing as an experienced urban designer I think through the design prepared by
Scott Simpson and Associates is well considered elegant and appropriately planned
for the projected uses of the space it would be a shame to lose the momentum of
a long community focus process that has resulted in what will surely be both an
award winning design and
a significant new addition to Northampton's public realm while the unknown circling
the round house lot have been considerably merit as
a result of our process I would recommend that Scott's Stimpson associates and team
focus their design energies north of the east west path the design team has
proposed on the south end of the park and that this path will define the northern
limit so it's getting
a little into detail but essentially you get the gist of that. Waiting to figure
out what's going to happen in the round house lot. Yeah I'm comped I'm confident
that we should really be moving forward particularly sense there's now grant monies
coming available for park renovations. I was in East Hampton with the announcement
of the Nash want to pause and grant funds and Secretary Sullivan announced that
they're going to be shifting from not just doing urban park programs for gateway
cities but they're now going to be expanding that to other cities. And I I made
sure I meant uttered the words Plaskett park to him more than
a few times when that program gets rolled out so I believe working on getting
a shovel ready designed to be able to access those funds is important also and the
committee had some of these same chicken and egg questions as they were reviewing
its application as well and how can we move forward with the park if we don't know
what's happening with the round how should we do the round house first you know how
how is this all playing out but in the end agreed that there are elements of Klasky
part that the city needs to figure out now we need to figure out what the community
wants and needs in
a park and get those elements designed and Steven Simpson and his to.
Work with the Roundhouse developers and create some options for that portion of the
park to to make it work together I should have
a couple more questions but you have some. For the mayor. The design costs.
And I support this order but to me it seems like
a large amount just dollar wise and I looked out of but what's the total project it
cost because. In the past for example the police station typically in other
projects like the high school and I'm at one point the facility I think the price
tag has risen I remember the former mayor telling us that. Designs were
generally around ten percent of the total project cost I'm not sure if this is the
same because those are for buildings and this isn't but what's the cost of the
estimated cost of the final the total project again we don't until be
a part of this is there was
a conceptual design done to get to the stage we're at now and then what the Stimson
team is going to do is actually further refine that and they're going to they're
going to do
a public process to really try to get additional input to refine the design so part
of but you're right there are it's often referred to
a soft cost or you know that those costs that are associated as a percentage of
a building project and so part of what this is funding is the continue the the the
finalization the completion of that sort of visioning process to finalize the
design and then there's actually and this was sort of the debate that Sarah
mentioned then the very next phase is to go right into creating construction
drawings and actually you know leading the construction effort at that point so
that's the sort of the two different price components that you're seeing reflected
in this dollar amount which again I realize it seems considerable but as
a percentage of
a project that's projected to be on the order of one point four to one point five
million dollars It is in line with what we've seen in other communities when we've
looked at these gave
a urban park projects. Final question I think Miss value probably be able to
answer this council barge Yes
a good question it does this one the vote was six to eight C.P.C.
In and. All the others were unanimous this time around and I think quite catch why
they want the two that were in opposition were only in opposition because if they
wanted to the process somehow separated from the rest of the order they didn't want
to award the whole one hundred ninety four thousand five hundred at this point they
wanted to separate it into two different segments of the project but they
absolutely were in favor of developing the designs and getting. Thank you also
Freeman thank you. I have to disagree that.
We should proceed with the Poleski park. Revelations before we have
a clear picture of the round house parcel and. I
I think however I am in support of allocating funds to redesigning Alaska park.
I also have understood and me this was I think partially reflective of the C.P.
Sees interests. In their voting as well. That.
There's there's likely to be a public. Input process for
a forum or two and. Or you know Charette or you know.
The type of work in progress you know presentation and so on the two to gauge the
community interests and needs and and so I don't think I don't think we need to get
all excited about the prospect of grant funds coming up. Tomorrow
because there will be a part of
a lengthy process associated with this so I think if we can we can afford to wait
because the plan is to wait but I'd actually like to see the timeline that is
presented I didn't see that I could I saw reference to the cities the city's
interest the city's calendar the city's timetable but I don't know what timetable
that is who is that it's as if the boards is it is the Board of Public Works is it
the C P C's Is it the mayor's I'm very uncomfortable with that timetable because I
do think that this I do not believe this
a chicken and egg problem. And I don't believe that one should necessarily drive
the other in either circumstance I think that they should happen. That one should
happen with the other in mind and at the other should happen with the first in mind
and I just want to I don't I prefer really appreciated teal and Mr
Love He was a. Great presenter and
a smart person but. Of course he's going to believe that his his
presentation is going to fit well with this the Stimson. The with the Stimson plan
because that's where he started in fact when and just to just to comment on what he
said not in the letter but in the. In during both meetings in which I was there
he said that the systems in design wasn't very clear when it came to the round
house area and that it could it could be improved it could it could it was that was
the least sort of focused element of the design for the park and that. And
of and there's his fill that in
a little bit the you deal work field fill that in but. If we have
a situation where the community desires to fund
a two level parking garage and green space so in other words no apartment. We will
have really missed an opportunity to develop one park that stretches where the
plastic park is now all the way over the Roundhouse that will have missed that
opportunity if we let the Stimson associates go through with this will have two
parks maybe it's
a good thing maybe it's not but we will have passed that up and I think it's
a mistake to do that as there Specter So first in terms of input on the park and
need extensive public input just remembering my daughter was on the Youth
Commission believes she was
a junior in high school. Was selected to be extensive processes already
discussing input from the community up Alaskan Park is one of those projects that's
going on and on an input and input and more important there's
a time where we use even in this place where we can talk endlessly call
a question it was all
a great deal of input I even remember Abby coming home one night how do you put up
with this people just talk and they had endless meetings and listen put on he was
a good process it was
a long process and it was even the only process and obtaining public input into the
design of the park that's number one the second question that ever is for when the
concert speaks is why do we spend money on experts and consult. Years of one of the
most recognized consultants in the field on this particular area it's
a very specific area. And if we're not going to it wasn't like somehow he was
unequivocal about it well this it sounds like
a good idea and maybe we should that letter basically said this is an ideal
complement this is something you should be doing this is
a strong recommendation someone who's been
a consultant I know when I'm making that kind of recommendation I am putting my
professional credentials on the line and so do it simulate that somehow of course
he has some interest because you know he's saying his interest is there to support
this thing that interest was there because this is what he believed as
a professional. Is it is in the best interest in the city so. I would say
if we say OK we're going to second guess this at this point in the dish and we have
a very good committee that most of us reckon that of the most of us know on the
C.P.A.
Who discuss these kind of things which is why we have to do it for hours and hours
and hours and what I'm hearing is this the it in terms of intent on the there was
a unanimous vote there was
a difference of opinion about breaking up the spending. I'm going to support this I
hope everybody else can support this as well. The other cuts of the well. It's
a one yes yes yes so it's. You know.
Is it kind of what these are going to be
a cap on the amount of money to be spent on the park. And not as as this or that.
This this is just rehashed sign an order at one point. For eight hundred thousand
dollars to design an eight to ten million dollars possibility in North Hampton we
spent the money in the facility came in at thirty oh just under thirty million
dollars It didn't get built we didn't even spend one third of the
money that it took to design it just to get us to the point where it's going to
cost us almost thirty million dollars So and now we're paying that money back.
And it was a bond and this is C.P.A.
Money but I would like to know if they're going to put
a cap on how much was spent because ten percent is all public works projects for
design and engineering ten percent of the total cost of the project so that brings
us up near two million dollars. And how much grant money how much will the city and
where's the money actually going to come from and if we could put
a cap on it I might be more willing to say yes.
I was just going to say that you're right about the ten percent but you're you're
way you're not factoring in is that there's
a separate piece of the funding that you're being asked to prove tonight which is
for the public design process that was the piece that and that's where some members
of the C.B.C.
Wanted to separate the that ten percent design piece from the preliminary schematic
public process so I don't know is that broken down. What the numbers what that
difference is I don't know what it is but I mean this is
a high priority for my administration which is why when the C P C rejected it the
first time I put my name on the application as
a sponsor of it and went before the committee both times to advocate for it and I
will assure you that I will do everything I can to find the funding to states or
resources through grant money through whatever it is to get this park done I can't
tell you how many people have complained to me about like why are we you know why
are we building new parks in new fields and you've got
a park in the center of downtown that looks the way that park looks. I can't tell
you how many times I've heard that and I've had to try to explain to them Well the
way the law is structured we can actually do that well now we can do it and I feel
like this this is this is not only an important public space this is
a you know one of our free speech zones in the city this is
a he said Democratic park in many ways it's where people come to celebrate Casmir
Pelasgian a hula hoop to protest I mean this is a this is
a significant downtown space and I think this is an important investment one of the
things we talked about was just that whole area of downtown and trying to really
live in it and make Plaskett park more of
a place that people want to go and go their children and go with families so you
know I think this is a this is
a major priority for me or my name wouldn't be on the application so rest assured
I'm going to do everything I can to make sure. This is funded that we're not going
to just design this and the design is going to sit on the shelf so that's that's
the best assurance I can give and the Community Preservation Committee absolutely
recognizes that any time that they recommend funding for it for a design or
a study that there's
a chance that those those funds may be lost that the study will show something that
we don't want to see or that is that the designs will set. Foot in this case for
all the reasons that Mark was just said they recognize the importance of funding
I'll ask you Mark and at this point. Three million. Just to respond to counsel
Specter. Because I was I was making
a couple of points first of all you Teal. Was asked to come in and show
commercially viable development projects and so their development project had the
park ending at
a building. Like I like the other which led to my other point which obviously they
use the Simpson proposal which I'm I'm
a big fan of it but they that proposal ends at the edge of the at the at what the
cliff that exists now and that's where you put the building so we hired them to
give us
a specific answer and they did. However we've heard from the public and I don't
necessarily support this but if it is the case that we decide that the city decides
that we want to have
a two level parking garage with green space which is not which is doesn't have the
same commercial viability the city would have to make an investment that will have
will have. I'll say it again will have missed an opportunity missed
a chance to really have one large green space one large park and instead will have
a Stimson park which could be award winning and will have some other park behind it
and I think it's
a mistake to do one before the other. Just
a little confused I mean why would that. Mean even. If you were expanding the Green
Park to a larger park over rode over
a parking garage why we have to park Why would we have just one that one put the
initial plan could expand out over that if that if that's the case well. I mean
this is
a design question right so. I can answer it based on my limited ability to answer
design questions but it's the case that the Simpson plan has
a certain orientation it has
a certain projected use for the different elements in the park you'd have you
really could you could I guess you could carbon copy it and put it behind it but
you would really have two separate elements wouldn't that you wouldn't be able to
last well with the second park but they could that they would be charged with
considering conforming and and rhyming with the park as it stands
and using the park that that may possibly evolve from this as the starting point or
driving as it were the second park on the features that are. Do you mind if I
answer directly if you completely agree with so so what you're asking me is what
you're asking is could we build
a building and then if we want to add on to it later add on to it in
a similar way sure but you could also plan to build
a bigger building which has different features and elements in it. If you know that
you're going to do if you know that you're going to have
a larger footprint then you might want to design for that larger footprint it's not
always the best to build
a little house and then make an addition to it if you know that you're going to
build a bigger house later you might as well just build
a bigger house right so this is then that's the analogy you could have
a rhyming thing but you might miss an opportunity for
a really amazing singular park that is that has a one long feature or or
a zig zag going through it but that's not the point is when you Teal comes in
recommend something they're on there in the business of building
a building of the park and so that's why the part that's why the. Design fits so
well because you could put a building at the end of it there may not be
a building end of it there may be green spaces I think it's
a mistake to do to have one process in from the other I don't see why we can't do
them both I think it's I have to disagree that it's that it makes any sense from
a design perspective don't salute D.C.
The development potential in the let's call it the hotel
a lot of the round house whatever you want. Is marginal at best and we
seem to have come to that conclusion and so I wouldn't be at all on board with
making something that would require the developer of the park to actually do more.
I mean I'm not looking to give away the store here but I would like to at least
give the developer
a chance to figure out just exactly what he's going to find I mean. I don't even
know if it's economically feasible for development of that particular piece of
property. So when I say I'm not going to support. Them
I think there's one thing that people universally agree on and that's Plaskett park
is awful I mean everybody hates Plesk everybody
and I to have mention to
a lot of people the restraint that used to be honest under the C.P.C.
Requirements that we couldn't do it and they say it's Park is awful why haven't you
done it and I mean we had to say because we couldn't spend the money and now not
only can we spend the money on it but there's
a potential for state funding cycle for
a park like that I think we need to do it and the fact that we enhanced that park
is probably going to increase the development potential of what's down the hill and
I for one think that we might end up with lots of things there but it is going to
be a parking garage with
a green space on top of it I mean you know I think we'll end up with
a nuclear reactor down there before we're going to end up with
a parking garage with green space on top of it so I'm happy to support this one
councillor way. I'll disagree in that I don't people asking for I actually actually
enjoy Poleski park and it but I absolutely agree that it can be improved and in
fact Actually this goes back to the other question about public space and how we
use public space and the fact that we don't that many of our problems arise from
the absence of public. My concern you know I wasn't trying to be argumentative I
was clearly asking because I was trying to figure out what what it was you were
driving at. My concern is the Stacey is that the
conscious spectrum First we can be stymied by process this is
a concern of mine during the one political campaign that I think we're all familiar
with that at some point. Public process and process and process
only supports process it kills it can kill actual thing and in
this case I think if we don't take
a step forward. Little gun shy and I think we earned it
by the same time I'm not I don't think it's appropriate to be handcuffed to to
stop on the basis of probabilities I think that's there has to be some aspect of
courage and vision here and I and actually I do take counsel Freeman Dana's point
he's saying let's not restrict the vision what's let's keep the options open for
the vision I don't think but I do disagree but in saying that I don't think that
that's actually going to be the issue here I think the issue here the issue here is
that we're going to be stuck we're going to be stuck for political reasons we're
going to be stuck because invariably there's going to be someone who's going to
disagree with someone else's vision it's being applied as goes back to the public
art discussion we got to go forward we have to we have to move in this there are
opportunities here and there promising opportunities and I actually think that we I
actually desperate to feel excited about something and I have and I'm looking
forward to being excited about this and maybe I accept the fact that that comes
with the implied risk of fire excitement translating something that might. Be
something we can't even imagine but everything comes with its own problems sets of
risk there's an element of risk to this yet. But the prospects are
a lot more alluring and have and hold great much more promise for the community
because as the mayor pointed out this is our center this is our core this is we're
adjacent to this everything that this community spends most of its time identifying
itself by the things that stick out of the ground not the ground not the park I
would love that the park actually not only drive the development that goes behind
it but every future consideration for development within the community and if we
start with that if we start with something in the park that I like if we find
a park that everyone like for that everyone agreed was was certainly
a place that they would like to share and enjoy then that I think we've done the
right thing I've done I think we've invested the way we're supposed to invest. I'm
excited about the prospect of calling this question finance and I also feel that
way have. Heard that. Oh and I have
a positive recommendation that he opposed great. Dave continues on the
recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee order that whereas the North
Hampton Conservation Commission submitted the C.P.A.
Application for the purchase of fifty eight acre parcel to add to the sawmill Hills
conservation area and whereas this is an environmentally important location that
will provide opportunities for trail and habitat connections and where is the
project meets the goals of the Sustainable North Hampton plan for authentic
Community Preservation plan and open space recreation and multi use trail plan to
protect open space and provide for passive recreation and whereas on November
twentieth two thousand and thirteen the Northampton Community Preservation
Committee voted unanimously to recommend one hundred seventy thousand dollars in
Community Preservation Act funds be used to support this project and whereas the
city council voted to authorize the purchase of this property and that authority
remains in effect now therefore we ordered that one hundred seventy thousand be
appropriated from the community present at Preservation Act funding to the North
Hampton Conservation Commission for sawmill Hill's open space acquisition and that
the grantee meet that meets the conditions approved by the Community Preservation
Committee the mayor and the city councils pacifically that one hundred and sixty
one thousand one hundred and twenty six dollars is appropriated from the C.P.A.
Open space reserve account and eight thousand eight hundred seventy four dollars is
appropriated from the C.P.A.
Budget reserve most. Discussion on this one.
And no until I see
a management plan for the city council of all counts. I don't suppose it's over
well the last we were asked Where's the city council voted to authorize the
purchase of. Forty remains in effect somebody just explained that to me
so Wayne came before the city council I believe him for for the authority to
purchase this property. And there is there was no funding tied to it at that point
but just to remove the accusation that we use that word that it is that money.
Wasn't this the property price and yes you have
a difference that. The other. On their own favor I have.
I know I know. And that. Means me
of motion control what would your second sex say versus I thank you would you like
me to stay for discussions and I think you know I think world's guy. Is also those
. He's been
a request for recess Oh yes you want you want to say. I'm
a six will keep will move that first but after
a five minute recess I was there. So we're going to recess for five minutes with
more like seven mil to.
Welcome back I'm coming out of recess this is
a city council meeting December fifth one Dean we're coming out of recess and going
back into the regular meaning we precess out of finance. And we're going to start
removing. Item six out of order just upon request
and this is. Kind of councils want me to read this it's
a financial appropriation of one hundred ninety four thousand dollars and in the
Preservation Act funding Plaskett part of Asian project. I accept emotion
so much sex. As Sarah lvalue was recognizing finance want to extend that
recognition here will someone actually move that move repetitious second second
all in favor and I almost crashed there are your.
Accounts from Daniel. And Isabella you know I'm sorry can I have
a motion put this on the floor he did we did it there was I was I hear it they're.
Good friends from Dave so I. Think it's the will of the Council to pass
this but I feel I would really like to have their.
Time. Discussed by this for the city the city's timeline of us
whether that was part of the C.P.C.
And who actually who was the. Who is the body that's going to be dictating this
time so the wait is memorandums of understanding between city agencies and they can
the community has a ration committee or set up it's
a timeline of three years that's only had to been be extended in one case so it
would take place within there but that would be deferred the decision about when
things will actually be taking place would be different to the applicant so the
mayor and the Board of Public Works so the mayor and the board public works are
going to set the timeline for this for the public process which is
we're funding it to the tune of something like forty four thousand dollars that
right yes it's so so contrary to what was mentioned in committee there will be
a public process regarding this yes not absolutely not polling at Trigger tomorrow
we're going to know one one of the concerns when this was initially proposed last
round of the committee had was that they saw the steps in design and six it seemed
like
a done deal like this this is the design is are we can be sure at this point that's
really what we want so the committee asked the Board of Public Works to come back
with a revised proposal and Stimson made it very very clear that that was just
a result of the design competition it wasn't all that detail that was in there
a time crunch and that going forward there will be a lot of public input and it's
a revised design so what I'd like to see before we vote on this is that is that
timeline or
a rough timeline that the applicant would can present to us and that should be to
our cause that's the Board of Public Works and the mayor. You know.
It's when I mean typically the commute Preservation Committee differs to applicants
as long as the work is done within the three years time frame right but I think the
councils should at least see the timeline I mean I was talking about the urgency of
this so I like to see what the timeline is Stimpson is ready to being gauged you
know what I mean there what I mean is this January February is this six months
that's kind of I'd like to see that I think well part of this is we it's difficult
for us to engage Stimson in us we know we have the funding and so what if in fact
we get the funding then we'll sit down with Stimson and come up with
a plan for how to do this. So that's I mean but my timeline and is that I
want to see that get this process started so that we can out of it go through the
early part of two thousand and fourteen and be ready to go with the next state
fiscal budget is available and there's funding opportunities to be able to work
work with so that you want the plan completed by I'd like to see why first.
I don't think that that's one reasonable to have
a public process and and on this particularly given all the the earlier public
processes that have taken place around this design so I think it's reasonable to
expect that this could happen in six to nine months yeah I totally do I mean is
that but that's your timeline. You're the applicant so I haven't had
a chance to sit down with the D.P.W. V.P.
To have you talk about it but again they they've been you know if you go to their
meeting room they've had these designs hanging on their walls for the last you know
five or six years the only thing they haven't had is
a funding source to be able to actually advance them so they're ready to move
forward and and I'm certainly ready to move forward on it. So if you're asking me
to give you
a printed timeline I can't give that to you tonight printed is OK but no need to
print it but you're saying July one is no I see what I'm saying that that's my my
own personal hope but again it's hard for me to say that without meeting with
sitting down and I can just imagine asking for
a warranty I just want to know what you'll be pushing for that's what I'll be
pushing Thank you know that and I'll be pushing for. Out of curiosity. What's
do you also have
a timeline for wrapping up the round house. Math development project will we have
a I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to have that so Mr love you till is
engaged pretty much to do just
a very finite amount of work that mass development paid for that report we're
hoping to be is going to be issued in the next couple of weeks he's got it
finalized and and we're hoping that's going to be issued soon it's going to require
bringing back together the committee which is going to be in
a little bit of limbo because we're going to have
a new ad and so that's going to delay that
a little bit but my hope is to to get that out to the committee into the public so
that they have
a chance to review it but I think that that report is going to provide some
information but in some cases it's going to provide other questions that need to be
thought about so I am not in
a hurry on the on the round house lot project I'm not there's there's
a lot of moving parts not the least of which is the still the environmental stuff
that's still there that would have to be dealt with that has to be dealt with but.
I'm hoping we'll have a deliberate process on that one and there's
a whole other process that I know the committee expressed wanting to do public
forums based on the the turnout they had of the first one but wanted to do more so
I'm going to work with the committee to figure out what they want to do going
forward. But I don't see. You know that's that's not on
a similar track for me and believe me no one wants to see us be successful with
that project if there's
a successful project to be had more than I do I will I will I want that to happen
so if I felt that the Plaskett park thing was going to somehow jeopardize that or
somehow compromise it or somehow I wouldn't be I wouldn't be advocating for this
project to move forward. I just don't want to see us not do anything in either
project in and then we're sort of where we are that's my concern so.
Thank you speaking as the applicant. No questions just statement.
The mayor is showing real leadership on this and. And I support this
this order and you know the discussion
you know the discussion the. Roll call please. Yes.
Yes yes. Yes
yes. Yes. No.
All right now we're back to the numerical order of the financial orders
appropriation of seventy four thousand five hundred seventy three dollars and
thirty cents. And there's
a request for two reading this is from Smith procreational stabilization fund for
purchase of computers i Pads and other technology. To be curriculum soft so move
for. Further discussion. No further discussion
roll call first reading please.
Yes. Yes yes. Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes this is Spencer for change
motions for me because I was seconded by counsel
a barge all those in favor suspending rules police say I write almost zero chance
entering second is moot as are second second second and further discussion will
call police yes. Yes. Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes yes.
Yes. I did number two in this is also request for two readings of this
a financial report of appropriation twenty two thousand dollars from the
stabilization fund raiser economic impact analysis of the proposed M.G.M.
Springfield casino scuse me consular did you say two rings that one could try to
use or nah mustard on to read innocent over said he doesn't have to approve of.
Oceans remain second the council came down yes believe the reason for two readings
tonight is so that the firm can be employed quickly so that we can. Submit early in
the G twenty fourteen the city can submit its. Appeal I think with an appeal or its
. Or its initial. Claim against for mitigation against
M.G.M.
. I believe to spend this money to spend it. May
further discussion on this appropriate. Place.
Yes yes. Yes yes
yes yes. Yes fourteen second
motions from made to suspend rules all those in favor police say I don't know I was
checking the motions made the second reading any further discussion which will
please yes yes. Yes. Yes.
Yes yes yes. Right.
OK this is an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars from the C.P.A.
Funding to the Conservation Commission for North Northampton ecological assessment
of open space of two per second and
a further discussion on this. WILL Yes yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes yes yes.
Yes asses in first reading. Next up is the appropriation of two hundred fifty
thousand dollars from the C.P.A.
Funding to Northampton Office of Planning and sustainability for the water mass
central rail trail extension project goes up emotion so we have to him second.
Oceans made by comes around I'm second to
a concert AC. Any further discussion on this. Competition.
I know full well this is going to pass. I'm going to abstain from this. For
reasons personal reasons. All I want to get now
I know all the people are going to be supplying materials and this is stuff like
that night. For your standing because of possible conflicts B.S.
. Any further discussion will call police
yes. Yes. Stain. Yes nothing
Yes yes. Yes. Yes
but if the vote goes. Well you really
hear about you commit in there you can see the passes for three days. Next
stop is an appropriation of two hundred thousand dollars from the Community
Preservation Act funding to twenty three thirty four new South Street apartments
restoration project hopes up the motion move to approve second any further
discussion deputy I was just I mean think about it since we voted on it in finance
but I know that we did purchase an affordability extension on the new cell Street
building for some period of time I think it was thirty five years I'm not sure I
don't know how much money we paid for it. And where exactly the money came from and
got to the top of my head but at this point I'm going to have to vote no on this
because I don't think that I was purchasing enough fordable extension is it seems
like we're going to keep maybe dumping money into this private entity every so many
years for years and years to come so I'm going to have to vote no. And question
counsel Freeman DANIELS Yeah I. Do agree. But like I said before we need
better specificity but. The. Project is both we have
a both historical building and affordable housing so it fits criteria that the
C.P.A.
Is created for and it also serves as our president space said it serves.
For affordable housing in the downtown area which is is very important so I will
support this any further discussion. Please
yes. No yes yes yes.
Yes. Yes no.
Or yes no now we're up to number seven which is the appropriation of one hundred
seventy thousand dollars from Community Preservation Act funding for the
Northampton Conservation Commission for sawmills open space acquisition both to
approve second. In second. We we did six only if we did I
think you can you say I am most forgot I made to house
a condom in the motion believe Council of our second. Any further discussion.
On that I will vote no on this one until we see something done from
a previously approved Item number three on
a plan of Management and thank you for the discussion.
Concert I mean if we're going to place
a conservation situation on this as usual I'd like to know if it's going to be
holding up but we can so it's
a request now it's best you know it gets between now and next year means.
I'll figure it out to
a remote of the there might have known and we discussed or threaten. Any further
discussion Roll Call plans no to yes yes
yes yes. Yes yes.
Yes. This is on second reading this is so. That the
result of the by any Eunice will watch unfold on two zero. One thirteen and said
persons we declared elected to such offices for
a brief second we have read Avery to thank you in the way of writing I wish it was
a long reading last time the motions made by consultations are second second. And
a discussion on the. Tamils misgivings Yes. That's
a freeman Daniels as
a miscue noted. All those in favor and
I you know either broke or all. Yeah let's do it once
yes it is yes yes. All right I.
Know Yes yes. Yes yes yes yes OK
that we. Turn to requestion do nine ten together and they do sex
they go together in the second good looking favor when I do I. Post.
This is we want to restrain dogs between January first and twenty four teams which
number thirty first twenty point. And then also a want to catch
a confined dogs January first twenty fourteen and two for one second.
Discussion about dog restraint. Those in favor of police AI
I'm appalled. I'm hoping the want to roll.
This will motion movement Levin told as
a group eleven twelve motions made to second. All those in favor of moving them as
Ripley said I right. No actually have
a question yes. To be on the hearings investigations and right but let's celebrate
them it's our. Way then I cross Everly and I were rich track that got it all right
so the motion we will do you will be is one of the time that. This
this is. This really tabled this is adopt
a council committees as from August fifteenth two thousand and thirteen there's
Theobald the summer of it which might note is today twenty thirteen hours reading
up the motion it's also moved. Into means.
Everything when it. Comes to the UN or ever come on.
Concert items. From make this breach due to the late hour.
So we have me had this back on June twentieth and. I'm glad that we
voted we voted to to table to this point because. Now every councilor said
almost six months actually six months to to look this over and hopefully give it
some consideration I've spoken to most councilors maybe even all councillors about
some of the changes. And. I also draft an executive summary
back in back in June which I hope people took the time to read because I want to
explain the reasoning behind some of the changes and again give councillors
adequate time to consider them. It's upon the strong recommendation of the city
solicitor that we remove these from ordinance and move them into as an order into
the rules but also the council has expressed. That it
wish to also take this as an opportunity to consider middies the various functions
and if there's any way we can create efficiencies by joining some of the committees
that maybe don't do as much work typically as some of the other committees do. And
I haven't seen as of yet. Any amendments but I'd be happy to consider it.
Just
a few brief points from the from the executive summary. Again these were rewritten
to comply with the separation of powers as delineated in the new charter and the
the the powers and duties section is taken almost word for word from the city's
charter. Most of the committees have been reformatted but the number of councillors
on each committee have changed and the areas of work mostly changed stayed the same
. I'll discuss
a couple of the changes. Particularly. I made
a recommendation to merge ordinance rules and orders with appointments evaluations
and this is for
a couple different reasons for one appointments doesn't do evaluations any longer
and we can't do the separation of powers as limited by the new charter and so that
that committee is left with one function one very important function. But being
that that committee now only has one function I thought it might make sense to
merge that with the ordinance committee because the ordinance committee chose this
year to do away with one of its functions and that's the function of claim so that
that committee now has some room to take that over. And I also think that
both member bodies are in charge of enforcing ordnances and so it makes sense that
. That does seem committee. Be charged with doing
ordinances as well as appointments because these this committee could have some
influence on how most of them are bodies interpret ordinance. Cultural and
recreation culture recreation and social services Veterans' Affairs or recommended
this merger. Because as I wrote I believe both these committees have important
business to conduct but for the most part they perform review they perform reviews
and hearings with community groups they typically don't have
a high number of ordinances orders again referred to the committee to these
committees so I thought to make more sense it would be more efficient if they were
merged. Also. I made
a recommendation that economic development housing in land use that community
development block grant. Funds proposals be reviewed in this committee and the
reason why is because. There are some there are generally two groups of
C.D.G.
. Types one has to do with social services and one has to do with
more housing economic development land use and infrastructure. Needs So I think
those are make more sense to be reviewed by the Economic Development Committee and
the ones that pertain to social services would make more sense if reviewed by the
Social Services Committee which will now be merged that gives the mayor's
administration more flexibility on who to present to based on. What C D G C D B
G proposals will be more relevant. Which will be more relevant and in which
committee. And so those are some of the so those are my basic
recommendations and again this was an attempt to sue to take up
with the solicitor suggested we do is Fars moving these into the rules and to
create efficiencies and review the council committees wholesale so.
That's it I'm happy to discuss further Thank you.
Yes I talk with consular Adams in regards to. My
concerns and how he has it written Committee on cultural
recreation veterans and social services. And I also questioned him
exactly how busy Were you with your committee on culture
and you did state to me with
a laugh week in regards to well you were very seldom busy with that committee
I have great concerns coming in to social services and better in some fairs
because we are booked for the whole here except for one month and August and.
I don't help on that hearing out but I do you know with Veterans Affairs we have
Steve Connors comes and also we're like we work together with the veterans consul
in Northampton sow I wouldn't want any interference with that either.
I was just wondering if there was
a possibility that this could go into. Youth Commission because
if you're telling me that you're really not that busy and that committee.
Why not Guth commission what you have students throughout our school systems that
are intercultural into our and so forth like that. I don't I don't think that.
Merging culture recreation and and. And the Youth Commission. Would make
sense to the Youth Commission maybe maybe the chair of that can explain
a little more than I am but also I mean I mean these are my recommendations and if
you want to move that feel free I mean I I simply this back in June and I haven't
heard until our discussion
a couple days ago on city clerk's office I haven't I haven't heard of any and if
any proposed changes and I haven't seen any written motions to that effect or oral
and so this this process have been going on for
a long time these are my recommendations and again I've given my explanations and
reasoning for back in June and I think and I actually do think that culture
recreation
a social services in veterans' affairs makes sense to merge because we do need to
keep in mind that under our new charter. We can't compel non-profits to to appear
before us and so. Social services A may
may find itself not as busy as it as it once was and also you can if you can. You
can. You can slot
a time right in there for example to hear from the Arts Council for
a half hour or even less or whatever or whatever other groups are under the purview
of culture and Recreation cook recreational services and. And if and if you feel
the feeling overloaded been you know you have to hear from them on
a regular basis you can hear from them once
a term rather than Once you know quarterly or once
a year so. I do think that this this merger makes sense thank you. And
just
a point of information the youth the youth commission. I'm not the chair actually
there I'm not even
a voting member on the council yes on similar to the old structure the disability
was OK I do know consular Tacey did bring it up at social services and veterans
affairs and I. Can say that you had concerns about
the cultural recreation being placed in this committee.
I had. Concerns about not having time for veterans.
It seems like. I'm not convinced that this is the worst. Scenario there
we have our committee is booked for
a year right now Book three year in advance how many times do we see we have the
veterans Council before us and how many times do we have the same ones that come in
constantly all the time Time after time and it's some kind of I'm curious as to
whether or not there are if these committees really have very little to do. The
cultural. That's what answer to me said very little and we have to be careful here
because we're actually now asking each other questions and we're not conducting So
if if you could question the thing because actually comes from the mundanes was
next to speak so you were your I mean you know it was fine you were answering
a question that was directed to you so that was fair. And we'll get back to you on
that. Consulate Marja you don't know your questions right now are I I did talk
with consular Adamson regards to that I would like to see the name of that
committee go social services Veterans Affairs and cultural and recreation. Move.
That's the proposed amendments actually that's why all those in favor I
post. Are counsel for him and Dale's.
Briefly served on the cultural social services and veterans affairs and I was the
chair of culture and rec. I think that.
The social services there is fairs is
a busy committee but I also but in culture recreation is not we did
a lot of soul searching actually in this past term. Regarding you know whether we
should. Continue on as
a committee because most of the time we were. Were doing work that.
Was. Not you know obviously usually not it was just informational work and all
valuable we really didn't provide
a really great forum but we decided to keep the committee and rewrite it and it was
passed earlier this term and but really our our docket wasn't very full and I
think that merging this one with. Social services and Veterans Affairs.
Would would be a good idea because it would. It would take a busy Committee and
a not very busy one and combine them into the one that would quite frequently have
all have. Social service work to do but but. Often not have
a lot of heart related work to do so I think that would be
a good concert Spector was an excellent concert you know. We did we just.
We just blew me all we do is think that will never yield the floor but I wanted to
to counter Carney and then conversation I'd like to ask. Thank you we were just
handed this piece of. The charter and so maybe as
a point of order because my close read of this section that we just indicates that
most of this conversation may be moot until. We have brought in as
as is. Required by the legislation here the persons who were elected in the twenty
thirteen city election who should be involved in the discussion of the rules under
which they will operate starting January first as I read this closely.
I appreciate all the work that. Consular Adams has done and all the work that we
get looking through this and the ordinance committee but my suggestion as I read
this section closely is that we may take this up in the next session yes the new
councillors who will be operating under these rules to do and I'll ask the
consequence for Adams. And I for this question to him. Earlier
today and it is it's in as he pointed out as worthy of deliberation and you want to
address that I read this as pertain to council rules not committee structures. I
don't I don't read this section as pertaining to structures of committees but only
for council rules but the other thing is that going we do need something to be in
place for the new council because if if if this isn't passed then we have no
committees I mean the next thing we're voting on is to is do is to eliminate all
the committees by ordinance entirely so if that passes as was the recommendation of
the city solicitor and we don't do this we have no committees and in the end and
the next council president can't appoint
a counselor to any committee because we will have none so so I do think we should
vote on this and again I don't think my just my reading is that this applies to
rules I don't see anything in here about council committees but if the friendship
then I just I'm curious because what we're doing is we're taking in putting into
rules the now these are or this accounts for. OK So this is
so the establishment of committees isn't is in no way I thought we were writing
that we were taking the committees of witnesses and putting him into rules putting
them into I want some rules if they respond please when I read this I read them yes
I mean even if these are place in the rules I read the rules that govern the
conduct of business of the city council I read that to mean our council or some
justice it was of the things of procedure of governance rather than other rule
whether rules or orders pertaining to the committee structure that does just my
reading of it. Also Specter was next but contraband you want to be get can I just
be to
a two issues number one. I remember this in it would an ordinance back in May or
whatever whenever it was. That we were we had some debate about whether these were
councils and we we clarified the language to make it make them Council orders but
they would be placed in the same booklet basically that the rules are in but they
would be orders. So that I actually think it says that in that order and the second
one is this it doesn't not seem I agree with Councillor Adams reading but this
seems very cumbersome and I suggest we use. Section eleven of the same section the
charges to extend this to extend the transitional provisions until the first until
January when what will happen is the council will vote on the rules. Comes with
Specter was next and then down to Mark I will yield until we settle this because
you're all about discussion got it if you feel like we settled this particular
discussion I copy down some of it and in fact of the first thing whatever we do now
to set the house in order the first thing the new council does is adopt its rules
for the next session so whatever if we set things in in place the way we think they
should be now the new council could amend them as soon as they start so we're
saying hey we you know in hindsight after this session with the new charters the
way we think it should be for the new council in their first meeting to decide in
its infinite wisdom to just change them so whatever we do it out is subject to
change by the new council want to get to. Concert also my reading of this and the
organizational week meeting we have. Satisfies this is long as it's called by the
most senior member of council and for me the most senior in a senior N.H.
Member of the council but I think that I think I think just that vote at the
organizational meeting adopted
a cancerous satisfies. So if we can conclude this part of
this question maybe we're going to go back to that because.
My only my only concern is that we conform to the conditions laid out by the
charter because we don't trump the charter charter trumps us so I want to can
leaders we can just use sectional Levon of this of I see you actually your point
I'm sexual I'm in this and I'll read that without all the subsections the Marin the
city council and office
a TA at the time at time the charter is adopted and the mayor and successor of the
city council. Elected under the charter may adopt measures that clarify confirm or
extend any of the transitional provisions in order that the transition may be made
in the most successful expeditious manner possible provided that such authority
shall not extend beyond five years and you might my point Mr President is is that
we do want to set up council I'm sorry the future Council want to set up its
committees as quickly as possible and not deliberate and they can deliberate but
not be forced to deliberate over the council's Council and you know you're not you
know I'm ready to leverage this time for you with. Trying to I'm
trying to remember where the chips are here comes from Murphy then counsel Specter
you can weigh in on this one of those and you know when when. Both the ordinance
Committee and the committee that was formed to bring everything in conformance with
a new charter the solicitor was having it heavily involved in all of that and in
fact provided lots of guidance and made sure that everything we did conform with
the new charter so I can imagine this process that was set up and supervised by
a listener would be going forward or the solicitor felt that it violated charter
since the solicitor with both with ordinance and with with the committee that
revised ordinances to bring them in conformance with the charter or not or just get
rid of them as ordinances and make them orders or rules or whatever so I'm
comfortable we're OK just because of the involvement of the solicitor through that
whole process Council Specter your dog eared and I'm very comfortable going to
speak to the actual question that other people want to jump on the process again
find I want to thank consular Adams for doing for doing the work on this I support
all the changes that you've talked about I mean it was one was one committee
rolling the appointments committee into ordinance committee it was hard to see have
been on that committee ever since I've been on the council and the chair of it for
years says committee I really enjoy it think we do great work but I think it makes
sense. To roll it in to some other committee and I agree I don't think there's any
other place to do that besides ordinates Committee which as you point out their
workload is going down some I think the fact that we may make some of the
committees a little juicy or give them
a little more work is the counterbalance that as they're going to be fewer
committees to fill that and I think we've in the past we've often stretched
ourselves pretty thin and start looking at each concert having four committees or
more and that now we're consolidating them so though that those committees that are
left might have
a little more work I think it will be more efficient I think it makes sense so I
support those changes thank you for the dialogues that we've had in between the
shit the working. Concert and also it sounds. From
a standing councillor Tacey there's
a lot of duplication of or not to the occasion but certainly. Veterans agencies
appear. Multiple times to severe as perhaps you could
if you're if you're concerned that you don't have enough. To fit in some of the
some of the Anthonys and join recreational services. Maybe you could. Not Call
maybe you could cost some of the same you could call the individual entities and it
. Was the year conflict that I think also maybe some entities that we call and
might be able to respond. Be asking for informational things that could actually
come in the form of an e-mail. Things such as that so.
Before we before anybody even leaves soldiers or civilians affairs we're scheduling
them again to come back or the old for the chair is as I'm going to come back in
again in
a couple of months or three months or who knows maybe six months. And
maybe maybe could be able to be done to see. You know if if I could speak to
a point three flee of the. The disposition in the in the agenda. Council of
barges been as consultation I can attest has been very thorough about this novel
shing in advance
a full agenda. If Council the barge but the next
if Council barges in on that committee then the committee is chaired by someone
else the disposition changes and this is true of Cultural Affairs because
essentially is contracted to mention we're we're inviting not requiring non-profits
come present before us. Is for informational purposes in fact actually social
services first of all we're required to have
a veteran's. Committee by mass general law. And only required to be once
a year as I recall social services back in the day when is it ten
twelve years ago when we revised council committees again.
Social services actually evolved out of
a review committee for C B G grants. All the participants used to be
a citizens group and then some councillors those councillors then became enfolded
into the city that. Would Council the barges done is call the
number of people who are traditional applicants for city B G grants if that forty
is transferred over head low suddenly I'm sorry I don't go complete I did OK yeah
I thought only. Only partially all the social service elements of C.B.D.
Will continue OK So the projects the sidewalks of the in the in those things that
go to and which is seems wholly appropriate but the but the fact is that so as what
I'm trying to do is lay out essentially historical of. Evolvement of these
committees and the committee in the business that we do is basically Cabalist
by the chair and if you have a chair who is it does not work as hard as Council
a barge in this respect you could actually have end up with another committee that
ends up like cultural affairs when there is no way well I don't want to there's no
it. Isn't It's not here nothing I mean I don't recall anything being referred out
of the office council floor to cultural affairs or to social services I don't
there's never been
a referral to my recollection to be deliberated and come back with it so
essentially the councillors or the people who sit on those committees are the only
people who are aware of the circumstances and the issues and the topics discussed
but doesn't ever. It doesn't expand back it doesn't do what council committees
should do in that respect because the consequent these are to serve the consulate
large and expand its knowledge improve its deliberative powers. And those
committees don't do that for better or for worse that makes us smarter because we
participate and we're very work but in fact I bet the three of us are going to cite
chapter and verse charters for all the five A one C.
Threesome the city north of them provide social services but that doesn't serve the
remainder of the body and and. As such is not doing what it should
do as by my account anyway what committees do Holyoke. I know they have what they
have like eighteen counties or something crazy that they have less committees than
we do in fact actually is I looked up throughout the region every deliberative body
in the state practically has has substantially less committee meetings committees
than we do we. I always felt we never go enough credit for the amount of time that
we devote and dedicate to the subcommittees and other groups and they have changed
over time but their purpose they have to have a purpose they have to have
a distinct purpose that has relevance to this council and the and this is where in
this and I do appreciate councillor Adams I actually asked him to do this and like
an idiot he said yes and I cannot tell you the amount of work that he's put in this
is I am enormously grateful and the reason I asked him was because of my concern
about the fact that some of our committees are not necessarily doing what we
established committees for so the accent we're doing in some sense is actually
making bigger acronyms community committees with bigger or longer. Acronyms would
be S.S.
V A C C C C and and. But
the problem still stands so that's my concern. The concert is I think but you know
we have we have like this tapestry comes in several times
a year you know they come in once well we've had. Services that tapestry
instance of human service now come in once
a year. Now so you've been on you've been on the committee for four for four years
so it feels like maybe it feels that way. And. Told her so
but then we'll just have to move the process it or I just want to see where the
rest of the council is in terms of seems like the discussion is focused around once
one piece of this are we in agreement or there are controversies around the other
issues wrapping appointments at the ordinance. Or the other suggestions that were
made or is this the one this is. The one sticking point just for me this seems to
be the one place where I just want to get
a sense of the rest that comes to actually have stuff for them or bad. Yeah
I mean you know looking looking for efficiencies It seems to me that the committees
that they are productive as far as the need that they fill and the fact is that
it's actually it's actually just a. It's a it's
a privilege that the mayor asks the council to help review. C.D.B.
G. Grant it is completely within the mayor's authority to assign C.D.B.
And so it's a privilege that we have and we and we have
a process to review it I think that splitting the process
a little bit it's help aisle and I also think that the they do good work and I
think that. At the end of the day it's
a privilege that that. And that. These some of these organizations
they're not compelled to come before them so you know the dissent drop the pay the
workload drop dramatically I just want to go back to my more general statement
which is we're back to is is this the one area that I'm the second oldest and so I
get tired I'm not the old the so I wouldn't be the one to convene the meeting but
I'm just wondering if we're agreed on all of this except for this one place which I
also agree that I think separating the C.B.C.
But are we are there other areas of contention just so we can kind of wrap her
hands around the concert houses presented
a number of things is this the one area that's kind of holding us up from moving
forward and saying good job great we've proven. To date I'm ready to move
forward on it as
a as written. A book called but I have to get. The right questions from
Paul. Say. Working in the room as amended as
an agenda but the name and. Roll call. Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Yes. Yes.
That passes in for us really. All right
violent twelve twelves moved back up second OK discussion because this one had
a question about because when it left the ordinance we want to double check with
the solicitor. There was a discussion or an answer might have been
a. Separations of. Ours issue the solicitor way and I.
Know what. I'll say what I said at ordinance
which I know you heard it but I'll just repeat it for everyone this is this is
basically taken word for word out of the charter and. We had
a the solicitor and I had
a conversation over e-mail and on the phone. Back over
a year ago when we were talking about. Revising the culture and Recreation
committee. And. This was the exact issue that counsel Murphy brought up
and he. Agreed with me. That. This was
a phone conversation but then he later sent an e-mail that said proceed he agreed
that a power of the counsel can be delegated to
a committee which is. I think the that's the fundamental basis of of
a committee right is that you have delegated power to its to it so read that this
power can be delegated it's the basis of all the other committees that we just
adopted so I I hope and so I hope that the technical issue is. Is
should be put it could be put to bed and we still have
a couple weeks before second reading so we can we can wait on that the other reason
dish the reason for this. Counselor President Dwight was talking about how we have
so many committees and now you're killing you we're killing me because I want to I
want I would your suggestion is to add
a committee right I've always just did get rid of and not get it reverts to so you
know this is quality not quantity that it was well you weren't saying that but. The
idea here is that. Is that. We often we had all actually
a debate about who was going to plan the downtown form that we still had planned
and that's mostly my fault and. We also have information requests that the
committee that the hopeful Council may want to refer to
a committee. And discussion of resolutions sometimes we don't have
a place to refer them to. They come up and sometimes we want to have
a discussion about them or form about them and we don't have
a we don't have an immediate place to to handle that and so my suggestion was to
create this committee the committee meets mostly at the at the cost at the pleasure
of the Council when the council first something to it it meets it does not have
a standing meeting so I don't think this is adding too much to the workload and I
do think that it can serve some purposes for for public outreach and for public
communications and discussions and also best practices. I have
a that I have
a. I'm comfortable with the fact that you know we can get the solicitor to weigh in
on this before second reading. I did have the question just brought up which was
creating another committee were trying to consolidate them because this committee
takes action when the full council sends its something so we appoint it but it
doesn't do anything unless the council says do this. But it's an appointed
committee and
a philosophically would it make more sense to have it be and you know if the
council wants to do that would it makes more sense making it you know as an ad hoc
committee gets appointed by issue given the skill sets of various councillors I
mean if it's you know if it if the council wants to look into something that is
relative to an issue the council president might go I'd recommend this council or
that council in that council or because they have
a particular skill set in that area form that committee. And it could be
a totally different committee for something else the council wants to look into to
serve the same function rather than having three or four councillors appointed to
a committee that's like
a catch all for whatever may come along that's where it has to go but just just
a thought I mean I understand the concept behind this committee but if the council
wants to look into anything it's can certainly create an ad hoc committee and and
and assign councillors based on their skill sets to deal with it you know education
might be one group and Public Works might be another suspect ruling for items and.
That sounds like
a good idea sounds like one I'd support what what I what I might do and encourage
other suitors I might vote for this in first reading into a yes but have
a little more time to think through the ad hoc thing just kind of to let it sit
a little bit rather than not vote this it all tonight but to continue the
conversation so I think I would support this in first reading but that sounds like
a good idea just one think there might be some pieces of that that don't make sense
it might make more sense to have a be
a standing committee but. Come to read it and then you might come to the board as
well I think I think it makes perfect sense. But I think it's
a Cancer Council rules council state that the council president of science. Members
of council members to all the committees and I don't know of any exception to that
so the council president could I'm sorry this could be
a question of one of information are you saying that the council rules would not
allow the council president to make an ad hoc committee not that it can make to
appoint an ad hoc committee was just this is. I mean this is
a standing committee but what I'm saying is standing just standing back to his
recommendation are you saying that that would not. Fit into the consul rules
Council Murphy is saying it could become an ad hoc committee that the consul
present then appoints people by issue and are you I just want to clarify there are
you saying that's not allowed by the car. I think it might take
a redrafting Can I just say. You can reverse it actually to go the other way
it's actually I think you're right but for
a different reason. And this is why I support it in principle but I just want to
keep going with this because. In this was what I'm going to say I'm skipping
council I'm sorry. The council president can appoint councillors at any time so
what's what's in it you could actually have this as
a standing committee but every time there's
a referral the council president picks the councillors are going to be on it
because. According to our rules and so far as I know the council president can
assign. Councillors to committees mid-term can take one out of one and put one I
mean that's something that the council president would hopefully not exercise it
for political reasons but could and so you could do the same thing with this one.
But operative. Council Barger conference but you could just
appoint
a standing committee but you would have to every particular day of the month that
it would meet in and it would have to be like we get courage from the conference
committee to. This meeting is canceled or they're due to lack of agenda items and
just as with this is written is not isn't this written as you know I'm not sure you
have to have
a staff of dozens is not how specific having specific. Customer because we
often when I was on appointments you know we'd move the meeting around sometimes
based on when the applicants were available so you know I think the flexibility is
there yet after reading the rule I don't think you say Green I don't think it's as
rigid as I thought and I just don't see it like that. Like I mean I think this
really is an ad hoc committee in that in many respects but the only thing I would
say against it is that. Sometimes when you start to say oh well OK well in order to
this we have to create net hoc committee everyone's eyes roll back in their heads
and so on so I would say pass this and let it and let it be
a vessel and then when you have issues the press the president assigns people to
them according to their interests or skill sets or what have you and then there
that issues done the Council becomes
a ghost Council basically but keep it in the orders I'm sorry candidates who know
me yes. So it's been that basically makes it out talk but it doesn't it doesn't
create this extra barrier too. Because then if it's an ad hoc committee so much to
draft the ad hoc committee element you have to draft
a committee and so on and so forth I'm going to say it's
a good one which is that it's
a standing committee with unassigned that's on the side you know it gets assigned
as needed Yes I like to think of the it's an empty vessel until.
I feel like it I don't like to move the question question's been moved second.
Place Yes.
Yes. Yes yes
yes yes.
Thank you Councillor Adams it would take if I didn't thank you since last Wednesday
. And we can use as
a group of fourteen. We're not there yet when we get thirteen to go number thirty
three it's that kind of
a big one to some respects so this is to all men twenty two dash two through twenty
two Dash eight the council concert committees from Aug fifteenth two thousand and
thirteen table to discipline women yet to be able to summer fifth twenty thirty.
Second this question comes from
a hole in the reason I think we wanted to delay all of the till this month was we
didn't want to upset the applecart for all sitting committees so we figured first
reading to my second reading at our last meeting of the year it doesn't do you
organize committees mid session that's the reason we did the delay of statute which
has to to to have this take effect this is deleting all the counts of yes exactly
OK that's that's why it was significant we should have said. So now we have no
meetings. The second leading up to the secretary that's what you want to do to
reading tonight. Yeah it's options
a bill I'd like to bring this question to you I'm sorry did you move the question
move the question second question zero zero then seconded please.
Yes yes. Yes. Yes yes
yes yes. Yes and he wants to spend. Can
we move us to take that into you know can I actually can I make your suggestion
move fourteen through thirty except number twenty nine. I was going to request
moving number twenty four as well and twenty four. One and twenty four so we're
moving the group of fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty
twenty one twenty two twenty three. Twenty five twenty six twenty seven twenty
eight thirty correct so moved on second.
OK It's you were just pulling it out to twenty four and twenty nine. The town
crier and the commissions and committees. Any
discussion on the. Roll call
please I think I.
Should. Yes. Yes yes.
Yes yes. Yes yes. I.
Will go to number twenty four which is the establishment appointment of the town
crier. Of the notion of sex.
I've got an interesting history lesson today about this I thought it was this this
quaint into
a quickie that sat here forever the original charter of the community was actually
established in one thousand nine hundred six somewhat of
a promotional given. Gentleman who became the town crier. Left under very due
to circumstances the loop and the city also provided him with knickers shirt and
felt. Very wears the puffy shirt now he took off he went
to jail with. Well. You know I'd be willing to extend the something to find
out the story like
a patient request Yeah OK but my concern is is that this actually.
We don't have any applicants for Tom Pryor we actually have no need for Pryor. We
have actually any number of citizens who serve as Town Criers as defacto Tom Cross
. I think keeping something in because it's cute is not
a good idea necessarily And it also sets
a soft for some. Errors from an that we don't need to experience beyond the regular
embarrassments that we have to deal with so actually I think when that came up it
was at the working group meeting the counselor Adams visit and we wanted to appoint
him to him. As he was at the meeting and he did and he did look great in knickers
in
a puff ish or we just didn't tell him what we call stories he's already out on so you
don't supply now to read actually what it said I'm recommending to save on sort of
the So you're saying delete delete button five stroke one so what you're saying I
would like to I like to call the do it for deletion So that's an amendment to get
us to move to it but it's an amendment to the if we just don't pass that ordinance
is it going to have or we don't. Then it's just gone in the. Right
but so if it doesn't get that it's not moved and seconded as we move you were sorry
oh I like I said. Can I please isn't this isn't the town
crier already established in the in the ordinance we're just deleting the
appointment authority right so if if we don't do many if we fight if we vote
against it then it stays on the books right there to us so far as I can tell
there's two ways to fix this the council. The council deletes this.
Bit of law entirely where the mayor. That submits
in
a ministry of order to the council that deletes it. Well that with the basically deleted
Yeah that may be the better way to go I actually think to refix next time there's
something. But I just can't I think that's better because the mayor
the mayor has it has signaled. No
urgency to pass administrative or to submit administrative orders and the last
possible day to September so. If the council does it now you're saving him
the potential embarrassment of having to have someone in
a tri corner hat and knickers Yeah it's why I see no reason if it's to go with the
former solution just have the council do it tonight. It's been moved and seconded
So he so we're deleting it so could what it meant to him we amended don't we can
you say we're making an amendment to delete it so friendly and then write. The
other amendment proposed this is the to do with downgrade deletion of item twenty
four the ordinance you were doing actually that I'm looking for that. You got here
it's in the chart it's in the code of order since this is an ordinance of the city
in Northampton broad global blah blah blah be ordained by the city council city
Northampton the city council symbols as follows The section one hundred five dash
one of the code ordinances of the city north and to be amended to that such section
shall read as follows establishment appointment there shall be establish the
position of town crier to be appointed by the mayor and what Glenn which has been
amended changes subject to confirmation by the city council to serve the term Mr
President for years and. That's what's you know before. This is difficult
because we have to waive walls but may I suggest that we vote
I suggest we vote this down. And then and then we
we say we we we create
a knave out on this and then at the December at our next meeting we delete
chapter one of five. In its entirety and do two readings and Mr President with
them to vote against any way to get anything it's
a look it's ten fifty nine if we don't focus on you ation that we're going to be in
a Catch twenty two all right and we just ended. All right in the middle of this
right now all those who favor of suspending rules to extend the meaning beyond the
one o'clock I opposed they. Sentence.
Lived to work another day. I said no three notice oh
oh no you need to have labor at the five you need to have six motion to reconsider
you have you have to have sixty as a condition reconsider OK There's been
a motion to reconsider all those in favor reconsideration please say I was all
right we're now reconsidering motion. There is no is motions dismantles there's no
you got to vote on the motion motion disliking to expand. On it and it's been
seconded all those in favor please I opposed may.
One day is that OK so. All right I'm going to do one on this now but also points
out that if we vote this down because we're this proposals to amend the language
which allows subject to confirmation by the council. It doesn't matter.
The point is if we if if we delete the entire section next meeting the only thing
we have to risk is that someone applies for town crier between now and the next
meeting in one thousand year reich. Polish to lecture you just post postponement
let's postpone it you know there's
a bunch of the next meal ticket on number twenty for all those who favor Hi Hi Oh
yes. We're doing twenty nine and then I'd actually like to add on
new business of village idiot. And I apply for.
Number twenty nine this is. This is twenty two dash one through twenty two
dash eleven commissions and committees as
a first reading. Except emotion so moved second as
a present from Freeman did like to amend this to. To delete.
Sections twenty two one through twenty two eight not delete twenty two
nine twenty two ten. And delete twenty two eleven
call for Could you not but that's my Molly get as many I need
a second thank you note. The discussion and you know. Just not just not
delete twenty two nine twenty two ten. And everything. Yes man.
Can separate. The He's
proposing them and them into the deletions so concert reminding us please Mr
President if we. I think this was an oversight by the solicitor if we delete
the Board of Public Works City Council Conference Committee and the city council
school committee conference committee. We have no method of of putting them back in
place when the new council complains and so in other words those two committees
those two conference committees would cease to be to exist. And I think that they
both served
a valuable purpose for this council and for the city so I hope that the council
would keep those two committees OK until such time as the mayor reorganizes
government. Come from. The Wasn't the process of this just to take these things out
of warden says. Make them orders Yeah but we can't we we can't work. I'm
sorry it's
a flow of business here. Councillor Adams I'm going to presume you've raised your
hand so good if. We can't recreate some of these
just by council rule we don't have that authority now and I don't think this came
up during their that. The ordinance review committee but we can't we can't create
a multi-member body ourselves we can only create council committees and so we can't
we can't under the new charter which we are under we can't mandate for example the
board of it works to be part of our committees they're not they're part of the
executive branch. And the school committees. And this and the school committee
isn't completely independent can't mandated they partake in any meetings with us
outside of the charter. So I agree with the amendment but you know we're also in
here there's also transportation parking commission commission committee on
disability capital improvements central business architecture Community
Preservation Elstree historic Titian historic district commission north of the
rebuilding authority and Zoning Board of Appeals which I believe are all most
memorable Adi's too so. All of those involved in Freeman. So this
is
a rather cumbersome. Single ordinance Amendment but really what we're deleting
out of it is the sort of the general preamble of the Council powers and the
different committees that are primarily associate with the Council. That list that
council Adams just read off to far as I know it is explicitly stating that
councillors can't serve on those multiple member bodies which we know is the case.
In its by charter. The part that were the part that
I guess that I I'm not separating out because it's kind of cumbersome is the. The
very beginning in Section twenty two Desh one where the council president is by
laws given them the ability to assign counselors to. Twenty two to the
Board of Public Works conference committee in
a school committee conference committee but I believe that that right is included
in the charter so I don't think that it absolutely has to be in the bill code of
ordinances but we can get that clarified by the solicitor by next meeting.
To put together this was going to be my suggestion that because this we don't have
to do it to meetings on this very last meeting because none of this was supposed to
think affect Dylan anyway so maybe rather than messing with the D.N.A.
Tonight at eleven o'clock we'll do we. I'll second the motion to continue to our
next meeting and we can make sure we got it right. Right so it's better.
They were able I. Bring this up item number thirty one of that's
just amend Chapter sixteen for dash six and that's Klain and this is upon the
recommendation of counsel on Freeman Daniels and ordinance and to the north and to
the point of
a move to move referred to or ordinance its second motion to Mainz act for
ordinances as to. The disco to transportation parking.
In false or hope and that if the OK so it's the role to transportation parking
an ordinance. Only come I don't know
but we have OK so those emotions are second up. The customer second OK So
is there discussion going for. Them special and from. All those in favor
referring please say I thought I'd post.
Let's see. We who signed up for the St Patrick's Day parade.
It was it was. Very. Personal you. Know.
He. Pays for American tell I have nothing else to
do any information requests we've got one more meeting. Any new business.
Up motions your don't move check it all those in favor I thank you all.
Again.